Written by Don Byrd
The Miami-Dade Commission stopped opening their meetings with prayer years ago, opting for a moment of silence to allow all to reflect according to the dictates of their conscience. That’s about to change after a vote this week to reinstate a policy of invocations, to be given by clergy determined on a rotating basis by Commission members. Why did they vote for this change (back)? Well, they had a little help…
On Tuesday, an intensive 18-month lobbying effort by the Christian Family Coalition paid off when commissioners voted 8-3 after lengthy debate to reinstitute prayer before public meetings for the first time since 2004.
Those prayers, according to the new ordinance, must be non-denominational and be offered before the meeting officially begins, with commissioners choosing the speaker ahead of time on a rotating basis. If a commissioner wishes, he or she may offer the prayer.
Nonsectarian prayer before a government meeting may be constitutionally acceptable, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. The business of the committee is the business of the people, reflecting a rich diversity of religious beliefs and non-believers. It sounds like the County Commission of Miami-Dade did better by all of its constituents before the Christian Family Coalition got involved.
