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To pray or not to pray. That
question has been answered.
October 14, 2007
Christopher R. Long
President, Ohio Christian Alliance
On May 16th of this year, the Clerk’s Office at the Ohio
Statehouse sent a memorandum to all House members in regard to
the Guest Minister Prayer Policy after a protest was filed by
minority leader Democrat Chris Redfern (80th District) and
Democrat Robert Hagan (60th District) who objected to the prayer
offered by Pastor Keith Hamblen, a guest of State Rep. Matt
Huffman (R-4th District). Their objection to Pastor Hamblen’s
prayer was that he had prayed in the name of Jesus and that he
had referenced legislation that was to be voted on in the Ohio
House that day.
The memo from the Clerk’s office informed House members that a
prayer policy that had been adopted in 2001 during Rep. Larry
Householder’s Speakership, but never enforced, was now going to
be enforced, at the Speaker’s urging. The policy called for
ministers to submit a copy of their prepared remarks at least 72
hours prior to the session day for which they were scheduled to
pray. Failure to do so would prohibit them from delivering their
prayer. The policy also stated, “If it is determined that the
prayer is of a denominational, sectarian, or proselytizing
nature, we will ask for it to be changed to conform to the
guidelines.” The Clerk’s memo stated that they were taking this
action in response to complaints from some Members. The Clerk
stated in her memo, “I must strongly remind members that the
United States Supreme Court has ruled that prayers for public
functions must remain non-denominational, non-sectarian
and non-proselytizing.”
It is unknown which case the Clerk was referencing from the
Supreme Court, but, according to the Alliance Defense Fund, in a
letter to State Rep. Diana Fessler (R-79th District) in response
to her request for legal guidance pertaining to the new prayer
policy, “There is simply no question that a legislature may open
its sessions with an invocation. Public prayer has been an
essential part of our heritage since the time of this nation’s
founding, and our Constitution has always protected the
activity. Moreover, such prayer can be direct and
sectarian without running afoul of the First Amendment’s
Establishment Clause.” (Emphasis Added)
In Marsh v. Chambers (1983), in which the Supreme Court
invalidated a challenge to the Nebraska Legislature’s practice
of opening each day of its sessions with prayer by a chaplain
paid with taxpayer dollars, the Court relied on overtly
sectarian prayers as examples of permissible public invocations,
referencing prayers offered at the Continental Congress and the
Constitutional Convention as examples of what should be
historically and traditionally permitted. The prayer at the
first session of the Congress on September 7, 1774 in
Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia, was delivered by Rev. Jacob
Duche, including these words:
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Be Thou present, O God of Wisdom, and direct
the councils of this Honorable Assembly; enable them to settle
all things on the best and surest of foundations: that the scene
of blood may be speedily closed: that Order, Harmony and Peace
may be effectually restored, and Truth, and Justice, Religion,
and Piety prevail and flourish among the people. Preserve the
health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds, shower down
on them, and the millions they here represent, such temporal
Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and
crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come. All
this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ,
Thy Son and Our Saviour, Amen. (Emphasis Added)
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It was clear that the action taken by the
Clerk’s office was oppressive and discriminating toward
Christian ministers. The Ohio Christian Alliance exists to fight
anti-Christian bigotry, and we were prepared to press the issue
after gathering all the facts. We are pleased to announce that
Speaker John Husted has reversed his earlier action and has
stated the following in a memo to the House Clerk dated
September 10, 2007, and that just became public:
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Throughout the past few months, I reflected
and prayed upon an issue of great importance, one that has
weighed on my mind and heart and one that must be addressed as
we return to our work here in the House – the issue is that of
protecting prayer. After thoughtful deliberation, including the
consideration of hiring a House chaplain, I have determined that
our current guest minister program is working quite well. As the
Speaker of the Ohio House and the leader of this esteemed
chamber I will not allow for our prayers to be censored – prayer
is a time of reflection and guidance, a time which should not be
governed by political advocacy or personal opinion. Our moment
of prayer prior to each House session is a legislative tradition
and I stand at the ready to protect this institution. As such,
while the Ohio House of Representatives is under my leadership
we will not censor the content of prayers given prior to a House
session. Please implement this policy immediately.
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The Ohio Christian Alliance commends Speaker
John Husted for standing for religious liberties and our First
Amendment rights. God bless you, Mr. Speaker.
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