Saint Martin's Cloak

I offer a lot of public invocations. Here are some brief, practical thoughts on how I approach the task. Introducing the Prayer . I say why I am offering an invocation and gently invite people to participate in their own way. The introduction recognizes that a time of prayer is important on this occasion for many people, but not for all, and it gives the listeners freedom to adapt my words for their own use as they see fit. A couple of examples. “We are rejoicing today with John and Kathy Jones as John is promoted to Colonel. I invite you to take these moments to give thanks in your own way, in your own heart, as I offer this invocation.” “Retirement is a momentous occasion is every person’s life. As we gather to honor Sally Smith on her retirement, I invite you to take a few moments for your own prayer or reflection as I offer this invocation.”  Praying in the First Person Singular. When I am directly addressing the deity, I try to speak in the first person singular or in the ...

Invocations at government ceremonies are legal. The 2014 Supreme Court case of Town of Greece v. Galloway  established that ceremonial invocations at government events are constitutional. Of course government officials should check with  legal counsel. Run these guidelines by them to get the thumbs up before you apply them.  Rationale : The Supreme Court held that ceremonial invocations lend gravity to public proceedings. They are a part of our national heritage, a recognition of the role that religion holds in the lives of our citizens, and a means of accommodating the spiritual needs of those to whom they are addressed. Volunteer prayer-givers are speaking for themselves, and not for the government.  Implications : The government cannot discriminate among volunteer prayer-givers on the basis of their religion. The government cannot censor or dictate their prayers. Audience members cannot be coerced to assent to the prayer being offered. The ongoing practice of cond...

Town of Greece v. Galloway, 2014   On the issue of invocations at government ceremonies, the most relevant Supreme Court decision is Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014). Two citizens from the town of Greece, NY objected to the sectarian nature of the invocations given at town council meetings. They sued the city, demanding an end to sectarian prayers at the assembly. They wanted the town to adopt a policy that only inclusive or non-sectarian prayers were acceptable. In writing the opinion of the court, Justice Kennedy provided a description of the facts of the case. The following is an abridged version of that portion of the decision. T he town followed an informal method for selecting prayer givers, all of whom were unpaid volunteers. The town at no point excluded or denied an opportunity to a would-be prayer giver. Its leaders maintained that a minister or layperson of any persuasion, including an atheist, could give the invocation. But nearly all of the congregations in town...