The Tulsa City Council has replaced its opening prayer with a moment of silence following a controversial invocation
Tulsa: The City Council has decided to drop the opening prayer after some drama last year. Instead, they’ll kick off meetings with a moment of silence or personal reflection.
This change got the green light with an 8-1 vote. Councilor Laura Bellis pushed for this after a pagan priestess, Amy McAdams, gave an invocation dedicated to Medusa. That didn’t sit well with some folks.
After McAdams’ prayer, Governor Kevin Stitt even said that “Satan is trying to establish a foothold” in Oklahoma. Bellis had been thinking about changing the rule for a while, but the reaction to McAdams’ invocation really spurred her on.
She mentioned that she didn’t want anyone feeling alienated or unwelcome during government meetings. It’s all about making sure everyone feels included, right?
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, they still start their council meetings with prayers from various faith leaders each month. The State Board of Education also kicks off their meetings with a prayer led by the state schools Superintendent.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma council eliminates opening prayer after pagan controversy
