(Credit: City of Austin)
Usually, Austin City Council meetings begin with an invocation given by various churches, denominations, and religions — typically a prayer of some sort. It’s something that has remained a constant among city council meetings for years, but a new proposal from Mayor Steve Adler will change the long-standing tradition.
“I have been thinking about the invocation at our City Council Meetings and have spoken with a sub quorum of Council,” Adler said on the city council message board. “It is important that the Council makes it clear to the public that our opening moment is a celebration of diversity of thought in this city and that someone who walks into our meeting, without context, does not think we are endorsing or promoting any particular religion, or even religion itself.”
So, beginning in August, Adler plans to begin each council meeting in a variety of ways that move away from traditional prayers, from people reading poetry, to meditation and moments of silence.
“This is an important way that we celebrate the diversity that exists in our city and begin our meetings with everyone focused and aligned for the greater good,” he said.
Adler’s desire to promite inclusivity through this kind of change will have some limits, however.
“The Clerk will let our speakers know of a two minute or so time expectation and make clear that the purpose is to open Council meetings with a peaceful moment or intention and not to address specific city issues, as in Citizen Communication, or perform music, as there are dedicated times for both of those activities on the City Council Agenda.”
The Austin City Council’s invocation has been the subject of controvery in the past. In 2016, the Satanic Temple of Austin was slated to give the opening prayer, but that was later canceled due to a scheduling conflict.
