SPARTANBURG, S.C. - A South Carolina councilman's prayer to Jesus and against abortion and same-sex marriage to open a county council meeting last week has drawn at least one complaint, a newspaper reported today.
Spartanburg County Councilman O'Neal Mintz, filling in for the council's usual chaplain, opened the March 15 meeting thanking God for "His Son, Jesus Christ" and saying that America's problems are attributable in part to abortion. He also said the U.S. needs prayer because of same-sex marriage.
The prayer got the attention of Spartanburg resident Mary Miles, who often observes council meetings for the League of Women Voters. Miles told the Herald-Journal of Spartanburg that she complained on her own behalf, not the league's.
"I was particularly concerned on Monday night, because not only was he putting forth a very sectarian prayer, obviously a Christian prayer, but he was also bringing up an issue that to my knowledge has never had to do with County Council - and that is abortion, and the right to choose," Miles said.
Spartanburg County Council Chairman Jeff Horton and Vice Chairman David Britt said Miles was the only person at Monday's meeting to complain about Mintz's prayer.
"I am a Christian and I believe in prayer," Horton said. "Now, I do believe there's a time and place for everything, just like the Bible said.
"I don't know the intent, but I think in a council meeting it was probably not the right place."
In a court ruling upheld in 2004 by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the South Carolina town of Great Falls was told it could not invoke the name of Jesus in prayers to start council meetings because that indicates a government preference of one faith over others.
Since then, other councils have changed their opening invocations or faced legal challenges.
For about a year, Spartanburg County Council meetings have opened with a prayer by Chaplain Jerry Clevenger, who works for the sheriff's office. Clevenger couldn't make last week's meeting.
The Herald-Journal reported that county officials will meet with Clevenger this week to discuss prayers at future council meetings.
"We have to be understanding of other people's beliefs. I am a Christian, but I know we had others in the audience who were not," Britt said. "We've got to realize that this is a public body. There are 270,000 taxpayers in Spartanburg County, and not everyone thinks like the other."
At Monday's meeting were representatives from the Spartanburg Buddhist Center and the Lao Association. The groups were seeking the council's approval for noise ordinance exclusions for celebrations they have planned.
Mintz told the newspaper Friday that he prays from his heart. "I stand by what I prayed for," Mintz said. "My lord and savior is personal to me."
Miles said she thinks the council will take steps to address her complaint.
"Our community is very diverse," she said. "And it's getting more so. And we've got to try to be more inclusive rather than exclusive."
Geez, get over it. The US Constitution says freedom OF religion as in "the free exercise thereof" NOT freedom FROM religion. The US Constitution also does not stay anywhere in it that there must be a separation of chruch and state. That is a published OPINION after the fact. If they had invited an Imam to give the prayer I'll bet there would have been Islamic connotations in the prayer or a Rabbi with Jewish connotations. If you don't believe in what is being said then it is just words. And if it's just words then remember what you were taught by your parents about sticks and stones!
justus4 you are one of those people that need to get over it. If you respect individual rights then this wouldn't be an issue. I expect to hear a prayer consistent with the religion of the person giving it, no matter what religion it is. Closed minded people only care about hearing their own views being public. For you liberals to be so open minded and inclusive you sure are intolerant of any views but yours.
I wonder if Mary Miles could tell anyone what John 12:42 & 43 says. I bet she dont know.If she did she wouldnt want the praises of men.When it comes to what God wants all else should be moot.
Also Justus 4 you're talking about Americas values and principles,I think the most of them have been lost already.
OH HERE WE GO AGAIN !!! Looks like the flood gates are going to open wide and everything and everyone in its path will face retribution for someone having faith in God and His son, Jesus Christ. While the abortion and same sex marriage may have been "on the fence", certainly someone praying, whether it be Christian, Jewish, Catholic, Methodist, etc. couldnt have caused that much of an issue--OH WAIT !! I guess it did !! What a shame that a bunch of closed minded bafoons are trying to do to America--one nation under GOD--shame shame shame !! I am proud that someone has a stong faith and was willing to shout it to the public !! America and American values stem from faith--whatever faith you choose--without faith, this country will fall to its knees and never recover !
It sounds as if Mr. Mintz delivered a fine prayer. May Jesus be with us all, in these times more than ever.
And if he had prayed to Buddha or Shiva or Mohammad? Or even The Great Spaghetti Monster? Would your opinion on religion and government be the same?
Yes, he could have prayed to any false idol he chose, we humans have free will granted to us from God.
Rainbow and JustQQking (and others as well), I'm wondering if you can tell us what Mathew 6:6 means? GGpap
Christians will never give up their crusade to convert all Americans to their personal beliefs and faith. They have absolutely no respect for others. How many court rulings will it take for them to start obeying the Constitution. They should be grateful they don't have to pay taxes on their montrosities they call home on Sunday mornings.
Baron, it took over 3000 years for the Egyptians to give up their polytheistic religions and anthropomorphic gods; we've only gotta wait a few years (give or take) less than a thousand for this current nonsense to pass into history as well. Smile! GGpap
Horton is a Christian who belives there is a time and place for everything....so Mrs. Horton, where exactly in the bible does it say to leave Christ out of anything? Where does it say it is not appropriate to bring or discuss your Christian values? Even in the Lions Den when facing death, it was appropriate to discuss and affirm Jesus. And, where it the bible does it say we have the right to choose the birth of a child?
Prayer does not belong in public, governmental meetings. Do it in your closet as Jesus instructed.
I can explain to you what it means, although you probably want believe it I will certainly provide the answer. Jesus is explaining to his disciples that it would be better to pray in the closet out of sight than to do it in public for the purpose of recognition, or to be noticed. It is not saying thats where it should be done all the time. You have to sometimes read the verse before and after to understand a meaning.
5)And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6)But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
JustSpeakingMyMind, you cite 5) "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men." Since there is no race of men that are known as Hypocrites (as we refer to other races as German, French, African, etc), I believe that Christ was calling ALL MEN (and today, women) that pray publicly, hypocrites. Just a very civil way of saying that if one chooses to stand and pray in public, either in a building or on the street corner, he is a hypocrite. He would have meant, as he addressed his followers, DON'T BE AS A HYPOCRITE, go ye therefore, and read on at 6)--- GGpap
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