MITCHELL - Mitchell resident and conservative blogger Steve Sibson gave the Mitchell City Council a brief history presentation Monday, speaking out in support of the right of elected officials to lead the council in prayer.
In the past, council member Geri Beck occasionally offered an invocation if a scheduled clergy member was unable to attend, but Mayor Lou Sebert recently asked her not to do so. Sebert prefers that professional clergy offer pre-meeting prayers in the future.
Sibson disagreed with that position.
During the citizens' input portion of Monday's meeting at City Hall, Sibson said historical precedent supports the right of council members to offer prayer in public.
Recent rulings on prayer, and the concept of separation of church and state championed by the American Civil Liberties Union, said Sibson, "have turned the First Amendment on its head."
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"It's not unusual for government officials to pray for our country," he told the council, adding that members would simply be exercising their constitutional rights by doing so.
Council members didn't have to test that position. The Rev. Liam Mueller was on hand and offered a pre-meeting prayer for guidance.
