Clay County's Divine Drama Unfolds: Controversy Strikes Over Prayers at Commission Meetings
In a stunning turn of events at the Clay County Commission meeting, what began as a harmonious return to prayer has devolved into a heated debate fit for the pews.
God was apparently missing in action from commission
meetings until Commissioner Johnson & Lawson heroically proposed a
reinstated prayer at commission meetings a few years ago. This lil rock knows
we all need a lil prayer now and then, and the rest of the commission was down
with it. Now, with the power of divine providence on our side, Clay County's
commissioners can tackle the tough issues like potholes and zoning ordinances
with heavenly resolve. Now we wonder if they can just get rid of those co-ed
bathrooms at the county courthouse.
Well, it seems that prayerful bliss was not meant to last. Commissioner Jon Carpenter is now regretting his past support for commission prayers. A controversy arose at the Clay Counter commission
meeting yesterday after a prayer and invocation was given by Theresa Leaming.
After a general reading from the bible, she began to offer special prayer for Presiding Commissioner Nolte “So Father we just thank you for angels that are that you've given charge over us as we live out our service, we thank you for protection … and father we lift up especially our first providers and first responders as they are out keeping us safe keeping us and we ask for special protection over them and for the members of the Commission and especially for our presiding commissioner Jerry Nolte as right now he's under attack for staying true to his values … and father we just lift up all of these things in your name.”
Commissioner Jon Carpenter, clearly not feeling the divine favor, swiftly rose to challenge the specificity of Leaming's prayer. He is all for spiritual guidance, but when prayers start intersecting with political endorsements, he draws the line, channeling his inner separation of church and state.
Jon Carpenter felt the specific reference to Jerry Nolte was
inappropriate claiming it was an intersection of faith and politics. He stated "I’m a big personal believer in freedom across all realms when I said at the time I was OK with
bringing back prayer and invocations to the commission meetings if we kept it
broad enough to where it doesn't bring about another issue of controversy because
we have people in this country of all faith and beliefs. Comments that suggest
that America will not survive as a Christian nation, I don’t think that is
appropriate for government meetings and of course even perhaps more so because of
the applications to politics so I am deeply uneasy with our opening invocation
today."
Joann Lawson, defender of the faith and inclusivity skeptic, fired back with righteous indignation. “This country was founded on Christian principles, I'm not ashamed of that in any way, We have had rabbi and ones from all denominations pray here. Prayers to God, no matter how they are sent are of value. But I am sick and tired of us trying to be so darn inclusive. Do you think if I go to Iran they will be inclusive? That they will say lets not offend her by praying to Allah? They would stone me. We respect all prayers here and I don’t want to limit what we do (in these meetings).” Lawson retorted, invoking an interfaith battleground that even Tehran might envy.
Commissioner Nolte quickly ended the meeting as other commissioners began to shout over each other. But amidst the sanctified squabble, questions lingered. Was Commissioner Nolte's mention in the prayer truly a political plea, or just another day in the divine office? This lil rock muses at the heavenly hijinks. It seems rather vague. Hell it could be some personal conflict Jerry is having unrelated to politics. Does Commissioner Carpenter Know something we don’t? It seems that it wasn't so much the fact of the prayer happening that was being objected to but the object of the prayer. Are we to tell people who they can and can't pray for?
As Clay County wrestles with potholes and zoning ordinances under the watchful eye of divine providence, one thing remains clear: when prayers meet politics, even angels might need a zoning permit.
Comments