RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Prayer is back at Beckley City Council meetings.
But Mayor Ryan Neal says he remembers that few years’ hiatus — when people asked in public comments why the city no longer does prayer.
Everybody wants religious freedom.
“Until you have a Muslim or Hindu or Satanist or someone else come. There’s just not fair representation when it comes to prayer in city council meetings or any other government meeting,” said Human Rights Activist/Community Advocate Christina Baisden. “If we can’t include everyone, then we need to exclude everyone.”
The new Beckley mayor thinks prayer before city council meetings is a positive thing for the community.
“You might want to self-reflect in the mirror if that’s something that bothers you. Why would prayer bother you,” Neal said. “I mean, I know there are different religions or denominations, but with other things in the world that are so wrong, that’s what bothers you? I just can’t understand that.”
According to Baisden, this is not new to West Virginia. She says Parkersburg 2018, two residents felt deterred from participating in local government because of the Lord’s prayer being recited. And in 2021 they won their case.
“We saw it during the potential Christian Heritage Week, during the Muslim ban (and) the Lord’s Prayer in schools,” said the human rights activist. “This is a constant issue about people using their private religions to dictate what happens in public spaces.”
With the separation of church and state, the state maintains political distance from religion. But Neal says it’s up to the city to decide that. This Oak Hill resident feels it’s not up to them to push the religious card on anyone.
“I think people should be able to do what they want on their own time beforehand,” said Austin Snuffer. “Not necessarily in the meeting but if they want to do it outside of the meeting — I don’t see an issue with that.”
On the other hand, ‘Live and Let Live’ says this Beckley nurse.
“I don’t have any problem with Christian prayer,” Anna Perone said. I think as long as it’s inclusive and nice and short and provides a nice setup for the meeting, I don’t see why not.”
According to Baisden, people want to say, ‘It’s my right.’ She says practicing your religion is, but personally.
“If you want to get up there in public comments and spend your three minutes talking about God, your religion, use it as a prayer, that’s up to you,” said the community advocate. “But to subject people to a prayer at the beginning of council and not give them a choice; it’s just unconstitutional.”
Neal says the US House and Senate begin their sessions with a prayer.
“Our West Virginia legislators have prayer before sessions. So why should the city of Beckley be any different? It is allowable; it’s permissible,” the mayor said. “Not just the city council and me as mayor want the prayer. A lot of people have commented publicly in the last several months questioning why the city does not have prayer before city council meetings.”
