Prayers banned from Gloucestershire County Council meetings
PRAYERS have been banned from full council meetings at Shire Hall – causing fury from Gloucester's Sheriff.
For years, Gloucestershire County Council has observed a one-minute prayer at the start of all full council meetings.
The time of quiet reflection has allowed politicians to take a moment, steady their thoughts and prepare for debate.
But the current chairman of the authority, Councillor Brian Thornton (Con, Tidenham), said he believes the historic practice "excludes" some of them.
To a shocked council chamber before a meeting at Shire Hall on Wednesday, he said: "This is not a religious setting, it is a council one. As such, I have decided I do not wish to cause exclusion in any way, so we will do without the prayers."
He added that some politicians might feel "embarrassed" about taking part.
The stance caused fury, with the deputy Mayor of Gloucester and Sheriff, Councillor Pam Tracey calling it "disgusting".
The authority is believed to have first started the 'moment of prayer' when local government was re-organised in 1974, although some people think it was around, in a similar form, many years earlier.
Some believe prayers have been in place since the turn of the 20th century in various forms.
It was stopped in 1999 by former Labour group leader Maureen Rutter, only to be re-instated just one year later following an outcry.
Calls have already been made to bring it back.
Coun Tracey (Con, Westgate) said: "For many, many years this has been a wonderful tradition.
"It goes back forever and I think to do away with it is disgusting.
"Have we all lost the plot here or what? I am really, really disappointed and cannot believe we have forgotten how important it is.
"I just wish we had the guts to say forget it. I wonder what the Queen Mother would think of this.
"You lot are all happy to get married and have funerals, yet this moment of prayer is going. It's crazy."
Councillor Suzanne Williams (LD, Springbank) said she was not religious, but felt others should be allowed to pray.
Rev Bill O'Leary, the pastor at Tewkesbury Baptist Church, said the council's move was "a sad thing" and should have been subject to a council vote.
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by L_escalier
Saturday, February 11 2012, 12:15AM
“As I said, if it's not on the agenda...
http://tinyurl.com/858s8xj
Eric Pickles, though, is demonstrating amply why I could never be a Tory...
http://tinyurl.com/7yfkzhu”
by Quichy
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 2:35PM
“I've reached the conclusion that Pam Tracey needs removing from public view as soon as possible.
Anyone who watches Family Guy will agree that she is our version of Mayor West, only nowhere near as funny”
by L_escalier
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 2:23PM
“FubarFury, below the word 'Agenda', it says 'Opening Prayer'.
The 'Minutes' refer to reading and approval of the minutes for the previous meeting. This doesn't obviate the prayer being part of the meeting, even if the minutes, when read, don't mention the prayer. As I said, I believe efforts to persuade us otherwise will not bear fruit. In any case, whether in a meeting or at some other point, are prayers being said in a civic building any more justifiable, or even less?”
by FubarFury
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 1:51PM
“by L_escalier, You are indeed correct. In the link I sent you, the Prayers where on the agenda.
However, this was as an item, "In response to some members' comments about the use of a prayer at the start of Council meetings, [where] the Chairman said that he would give consideration to these comments after the meeting and decide what changes, if any, should be made.
Note that it was assumed by the Chairman to be the Chairman's decision, and not one made by the Full Council.
My point remains, that neither the agenda, nor the minutes ever list the 'activity' of praying.
For example, in the Agenda it lists:
1. MINUTES
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS
5. PUBLIC QUESTIONS
It does NOT say 1. PRAYERS.
Therefore, they are not part of he meeting.”
by Unenchanted
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 11:37AM
“'I wonder what the Queen Mother would think of this'??
Typical deluded ramblings from the sort of oddbods and fundamentalists who have an invisible friend called god.”
by LydneyLass
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 1:00AM
“@by Alfredo, by 'elitist' I mean the practice elevates religion above non-belief - do you think they would allow an atheist time before meetings to proclaim the merits of their philosophy?”
by moaner1970
Monday, December 05 2011, 4:42PM
“Don't pray, won't pray. Why is it right to pray before a meeting. No one else does it, so Mr Sheriff, if you want to pray, wants to pray, go to church. If they've got nothing better to sort out, they should all be sacked anyway.”
by L_escalier
Monday, December 05 2011, 11:51AM
“And once again, the standing issue seems to be overlooked.
Is it normal to stand for prayers, anyway?”
by Chris2308
Monday, December 05 2011, 11:44AM
“Of course, the simple solution would be for those who don't want to pray, not to do so.”
by Bonkim2003
Monday, December 05 2011, 11:40AM
“Watch it Mortals - God is listening and preparing his (being deliberately sexist) thunderbolt to silence the lot of you.”