Civic prayer stirs up debate in council

The motion led by Councillor Larry Whipper at the June 26 meeting aimed to include prayers from other faiths as part of the civic opening prayer at the start of each meeting.

The motion of notice included six points, including that the council recognise that there are those in our nation who acknowledge God through different pathways and that council make formal invitations to local leaders of the Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Bahai faiths to be include in the roster to provide prayer on behalf of this council and its community.

Cr Whipper said that he had put the motion forward to acknowledge the diverse landscape of Australia.

"I don't want to throw the prayer out at all, but I think that we should at least make an invitation to people from other belief systems to come along and to share in prayer," he said.

"I think it's time that we maintain the opening prayer in council or the opportunity of prayer in the opening of council because I believe in all sincerity that it is important and to extend the invites to others."

The motions was amended by Councillor Gordon Markwart to include people who hold agnostic or atheist views, stating that the current prayer is not inclusive to people of different faiths or people of no faith and to consider a a moment of silence every 3 - 4 meetings.

"Cr Whipper's motion seeks to broaden the prayer, which is all good and all excellent but doesn't include all members of the community or all members around this table," he said.

"To me this is a debate or discussion about inclusiveness. How can we include as many people as possible in that prayer.

"I would consider [the motion] if it would include atheists and agnostics, because it's not inclusive of the whole community. We should reflect that as leaders of the community and not cut anyone out."

Councillor Graham McLaughlin, who spoke in support of the motion, said it would make the civic prayer interesting and would also support having a minute of silence as well.

Both the motion set by Cr Whipper and the amendment put forward by Cr Markwart were defeated in council and the civic prayer will remain unchanged.

Read Also: A sacred day at Chevalier College | PHOTOS | VIDEOS

Council discuss the future of Frankland Street in closed committee

Chelsea Lenarduzzi reflects on State of Origin and talks about her future