Council Votes To Alter Prayer Policy

Tulsa's City Council voted Thursday to change an unwritten policy so that people can name a deity when praying before the council's regular weekly meetings.

The council's previous prayer policy, which prohibited the use of the name of Jesus, Allah or other religious figures, had prompted complaints.

Prayer leaders must be from a recognized congregation within the city.

Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Executive Director James Mishler also spoke against the change, questioning who would decide what is a "recognized congregation."

"I think the very people who have been encouraging you to make this change are going to be very uncomfortable when the priest from the Hindu temple is standing here chanting in the name of Krishna or when someone from the Wiccan community offers prayers to the earth mother," he said. Full Story

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