Christian deeds more important than prayer

In a 3-2 vote, Sussex County Council last week agreed to stop reciting the Lord’s Prayer and to instead open meetings with the 23rd Psalm.

The change is the result of court-ordered mediation; had council not agreed, a federal judge was set to issue an injunction halting the Lord’s Prayer before meetings. Some residents hoped council would force the judge to issue the injunction so it could be appealed to federal Circuit Court. Fortunately, a majority of council rejected that view.

Much effort and money has been spent over the words council traditionally used to ask guidance from God.

The court did not ban prayer from the meetings; the judge said the problem is council always uses a single, Christian prayer, which gives Christianity preferred status. Giving one religion preferred status is forbidden under our Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark wrote council's preference for a Christian prayer likely violates the principle that “citizens should come to public meetings confident in the assurance that government plays no favorites in matters of faith but welcomes the participation of all.”

It’s a simple concept; it’s hard to see how a member of council could fail to grasp this basic notion. In the end, George Cole, Mike Vincent and Joan Deaver approved the compromise. While even the 23rd Psalm does not reflect the beliefs of all religions, it is more widely embraced than the Lord’s Prayer.

Still, councilmen Vance Phillips and Sam Wilson rejected the compromise, apparently believing doing something for a long time makes it right. Not only that; Phillips and Wilson voted against the compromise knowing full well it would pass, leaving to others the task of making a tough decision all members of council knew was necessary.

Vance Phillips and Sam Wilson fought to the end to defend their Christian faith. At the same time, they refuse to even discuss increasing the funding for the county’s home repair program so people struggling to pay their bills can fix their plumbing or put a sound roof over their heads.

Is Christian faith limited to reciting a prayer? It’s time for this council to get beyond words and take action and use the resources of county taxpayers to serve the people of Sussex County.