Campaign to stop Council prayers – how you can help

There are many — maybe even the majority — of local councils in this country that start their meetings with Christian prayers. Non-believers and those of other religions are put in the embarrassing position of wondering whether to participate or pointedly not participate. It is intolerable that elected representatives should be put through this in carrying out their duty. A typical reaction to their protests is that they are told they can leave the chamber during prayers and return. We also know of potential candidates who will not put their names forward for election, appalled that they should be expected to participate in prayers. This deprives local democracy of much-needed new blood.

We are not seeking to restrict freedom of worship. If some Council members wish to pray, there is no problem with them doing so before Council meetings. But this should be separate from the meetings and preferably not in the same room, so that those arriving for the meeting are not inconvenienced.

We have been working on this campaign for some months and after complaints from councillors, top lawyers working on behalf of the NSS have sent a letter to one council advising them that prayers during council meetings are in conflict with human rights provisions. The council is currently considering our lawyers’ letter and we will soon be bringing you details of the outcome.

We now need to know which councils are including prayers in their meetings and which aren’t. We need supporters to enquire whether their district, town, parish and county council meetings include prayers.

Because there will be so many to deal with, please help us by using the following format:

For councils who are holding prayers

Please send separate emails for each council where there are council prayers, please. The exact name of the council should be in the subject line.

In the text please confirm the information and show how you obtained it. Then give the official to whom we should write (normally Town Clerk or County Clerk) with their position, the council and full postal address so we can simply paste this and write to them. We would appreciate your concluding with your name and telephone number for any queries. Email your results to councilprayers@secularism.org.uk.

So, your email should read:

[Precise name of Council] includes prayers in its meetings.

I established this by [reference to the agenda or minutes in the library/by speaking to name and position of official on date, telephone number or place.

Please write to .......

My name and telephone number are: ......

For councils who are NOT holding prayers

List exact names of councils, each on a separate line please. There is no need for a separate email for each Council not holding prayers. They should be sent to nocouncilprayers@secularism.org.uk.

Then after the council name(s) please add

Information provided by [your name and telephone number]

You could help the process by forwarding this edition of Newsline to friends in other parts of the country and inviting them to help. You might also wish to invite them to subscribe to Newsline at the same time.The below councils have already been contacted and no further assistance is needed at this stage: