Kannapolis City Council opts for silent prayer | Politics

KANNAPOLIS - Members of the Kannapolis City Council opened the Monday night meeting with a prayer spoken in the name of Jesus, but later decided that from now on, the prayers offered would be silent.

An organization called Freedom From Religion sent a letter to Kannapolis leaders saying that it had gotten complaints about sectarian prayers offered at meetings.

On Monday night councilman Randy Cauthen opened the meeting with such a prayer.  Later, after the formal meeting, council members met with the city attorney who advised the board of its options under the law.

The board then decided that in the future it would open meetings with silent prayer.

A similar debate has erupted in Rowan County, but so far, with a different outcome.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a letter to Rowan commissioners asking them to stop praying sectarian prayers.  The letter was based on 4-5 complaints the ACLU had received.

Rowan commissioners have, to this point, defied the ban at two out of three meetings.  Two of the meetings also featured dozens of protesters who sang hymns outside the meeting room, and dozens of speakers who made comments during the public comment portion of the meeting urging commissioners to continue to pray in the name of Jesus.  A handful of speakers supported the ACLU request.

The ACLU has indicated that a lawsuit is an option, but so far no such suit has been filed.