Council won't pray out loud
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Resident Don Craig reads the Sioux City city council a petition signed by people who want spoken prayer to become part of the city council agenda, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, in the city council chambers. (Sioux City Journal, Jerry Mennenga)
SIOUX CITY -- In the end, it was Councilman Dave Ferris who put the "Amen" on deciding whether city lawmakers will have the chance to say nonsectarian prayers before council meetings.
They won't. The vote was 3-2.
Mayor Mike Hobart and Councilman Jim Rixner joined Ferris in opposing Councilman Aaron Rochester's proposal to give the lawmakers the option of taking turns saying a spoken prayer, or continuing the practice of standing for a moment of silence.
Councilman Brent Hoffman joined Rochester in voting for the change.
Their vote came after listening to two hours of testimony from 25 people in a jammed City Council Chambers. Thirteen people urged the council to support Rochester's prayer proposal. Twelve lobbied the council to keep the moment of silence. A majority of the 90 people in attendance indicated by several standing ovations and applause that they supported Rochester.
Among those who testified in favor of adding a spoken prayer option was Don Craig, an associate pastor at Central Baptist Church. He presented a petition signed by 85 clergy members in a five-state region. He contended that "secular sinkers" who insist on saying only a silent prayer would lead to "sinking the silence."
Virginia Ferguson, who received applause when she announced she was celebrating her 85th birthday Monday, said, "It doesn't enrich in any way for anyone to stand in silence. The freedom to pray out loud is prohibited in many nations. Why can't Sioux City lead the way in preserving this precious right?"
Speaking for the moment of silence, Sherry Flansburg said: "I would prefer to allow people who don't have the loudest voices to say the prayers they are comfortable with saying in silence. It's very difficult to listen to a prayer if it's not one you are comfortable with."
And Chris Jensen added: "If it's not broken, don't fix it. There is nothing wrong with standing and praying if that's what you want to do. ... That's not what the council should be about. It's about fixing potholes."
Before announcing how he would vote, Ferris said: "I don't think I've ever had an issue where I'm on both sides. I've talked to my bishop. I've talked to my wife. I've talked to Jim (Rixner) and Brent (Hoffman). I could really care less what people in other cities do.
"I am a baptized Catholic. This is about prayer. This is about my faith. I'm doing what my heart tells me.
"An awful lot of my decision is based here on Rob Zombie," he continued, referring to the heavy metal rocker who first played Sioux City in the old Municipal Auditorium in 2002 over Ferris' objections to what he felt were Zombie's satanic messages.
He said he was not concerned that the current council members would say satanic prayers but said he was worried about what might happen in the future.
"If I saw someone with a satanic belief, I would have trouble living with myself. ... I don't like the opportunity this is presenting to nonbelievers. I will not give someone a stage to bash him (God)."
Rochester again explained why he had proposed that council members say a nonsectarian prayer if they so chose. He noted he had attended the funeral for sisters Alysha Suing, 8, and Kendra Suing, 10, who were close in age to several of his children. The sisters were murdered at their home on Nebraska Street last month. Their stepfather has been charged in their deaths.
"I'd like the right to say a prayer for the kids of this city. I don't understand why this was such a divisive measure," Rochester said. "It's not about popularity. It's about what I think is right. I didn't discuss it with the PAC," he said of PeaceMakers Political Action Committee, which contributed money to his council campaign. "I didn't discuss this with my church (Cornerstone World Outreach). I didn't even discuss this with my wife."
He received a standing ovation.
Rixner said he was elected to represent all people of the city, saying, "No matter how it's done, someone will still be offended, and that's a shame. If I thought that public prayer would make a huge difference in the life of this council, I would do it. ... I don't want to impose my beliefs on anybody, and I don't want them to impose their beliefs on me. I have tremendous respect for what Mr. Ferris said."
He noted the council spends its time resolving issues that affect residents, ranging from filling potholes to dealing with multimillion-dollar changes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"If we were to be true peacemakers, we should love one another. We should be less judgmental. This is very hurtful to me."
Hoffman said he approached the decision based on logic and facts. "I see a fairly simple and straightforward motion that allows for silent prayer or a spoken one. It meets constitutional standards."
Having said that, Hoffman acknowledged: "This is one of the most difficult and gut-wrenching decisions we have discussed in my two-plus years on the council. It's a disappointment to me personally that a matter of prayer would be contentious and debated. It's an issue that would make the angels laugh -- or cry. Ultimately, it's a matter of prayer and faith."
He recalled having witnessed religious persecution while serving in the military in Saudi Arabia, where he saw a man beheaded for his beliefs.
After he announced he intended to vote for the motion, Hoffman asked the crowd, "Do not applaud -- please."
Mayor Hobart, who announced on Feb. 15 he intended to vote against Rochester's resolution, said: "For the record to those who don't believe I am a Christian, nothing could be further from the truth. If it was just for me, I would vote yes on this."
He said citizens have contacted him about the proposal, saying 15 to1 they opposed changing the silent prayer policy. Many, he said, are members of Cornerstone and of Hoffman's church, Heartland Community Baptist.
"I don't believe problems of Sioux City are due to silent prayer. ... God can multitask. God is able to read hearts of every individual.
"I'm sorry it came to this. Maybe it's been good for the city to review our beliefs."
At the conclusion of his remarks, Hobart said, "I'd like to apologize for any divisive statements I've made and hope we can come together as a community."
Marcia Waitt was among citizens who opposed the spoken prayer, saying: "If I were a practicing Muslim, Buddhist or Wiccan, I would be offended. I am a Christian, by the way."
And Ginny Davenport said: "Prayer is simply talking to God. What is wrong with asking him to guide us?"
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynn.zerschling@lee.net
They won't. The vote was 3-2.
Mayor Mike Hobart and Councilman Jim Rixner joined Ferris in opposing Councilman Aaron Rochester's proposal to give the lawmakers the option of taking turns saying a spoken prayer, or continuing the practice of standing for a moment of silence.
Councilman Brent Hoffman joined Rochester in voting for the change.
Their vote came after listening to two hours of testimony from 25 people in a jammed City Council Chambers. Thirteen people urged the council to support Rochester's prayer proposal. Twelve lobbied the council to keep the moment of silence. A majority of the 90 people in attendance indicated by several standing ovations and applause that they supported Rochester.
Among those who testified in favor of adding a spoken prayer option was Don Craig, an associate pastor at Central Baptist Church. He presented a petition signed by 85 clergy members in a five-state region. He contended that "secular sinkers" who insist on saying only a silent prayer would lead to "sinking the silence."
Virginia Ferguson, who received applause when she announced she was celebrating her 85th birthday Monday, said, "It doesn't enrich in any way for anyone to stand in silence. The freedom to pray out loud is prohibited in many nations. Why can't Sioux City lead the way in preserving this precious right?"
Speaking for the moment of silence, Sherry Flansburg said: "I would prefer to allow people who don't have the loudest voices to say the prayers they are comfortable with saying in silence. It's very difficult to listen to a prayer if it's not one you are comfortable with."
And Chris Jensen added: "If it's not broken, don't fix it. There is nothing wrong with standing and praying if that's what you want to do. ... That's not what the council should be about. It's about fixing potholes."
Before announcing how he would vote, Ferris said: "I don't think I've ever had an issue where I'm on both sides. I've talked to my bishop. I've talked to my wife. I've talked to Jim (Rixner) and Brent (Hoffman). I could really care less what people in other cities do.
"I am a baptized Catholic. This is about prayer. This is about my faith. I'm doing what my heart tells me.
"An awful lot of my decision is based here on Rob Zombie," he continued, referring to the heavy metal rocker who first played Sioux City in the old Municipal Auditorium in 2002 over Ferris' objections to what he felt were Zombie's satanic messages.
He said he was not concerned that the current council members would say satanic prayers but said he was worried about what might happen in the future.
"If I saw someone with a satanic belief, I would have trouble living with myself. ... I don't like the opportunity this is presenting to nonbelievers. I will not give someone a stage to bash him (God)."
Rochester again explained why he had proposed that council members say a nonsectarian prayer if they so chose. He noted he had attended the funeral for sisters Alysha Suing, 8, and Kendra Suing, 10, who were close in age to several of his children. The sisters were murdered at their home on Nebraska Street last month. Their stepfather has been charged in their deaths.
"I'd like the right to say a prayer for the kids of this city. I don't understand why this was such a divisive measure," Rochester said. "It's not about popularity. It's about what I think is right. I didn't discuss it with the PAC," he said of PeaceMakers Political Action Committee, which contributed money to his council campaign. "I didn't discuss this with my church (Cornerstone World Outreach). I didn't even discuss this with my wife."
He received a standing ovation.
Rixner said he was elected to represent all people of the city, saying, "No matter how it's done, someone will still be offended, and that's a shame. If I thought that public prayer would make a huge difference in the life of this council, I would do it. ... I don't want to impose my beliefs on anybody, and I don't want them to impose their beliefs on me. I have tremendous respect for what Mr. Ferris said."
He noted the council spends its time resolving issues that affect residents, ranging from filling potholes to dealing with multimillion-dollar changes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"If we were to be true peacemakers, we should love one another. We should be less judgmental. This is very hurtful to me."
Hoffman said he approached the decision based on logic and facts. "I see a fairly simple and straightforward motion that allows for silent prayer or a spoken one. It meets constitutional standards."
Having said that, Hoffman acknowledged: "This is one of the most difficult and gut-wrenching decisions we have discussed in my two-plus years on the council. It's a disappointment to me personally that a matter of prayer would be contentious and debated. It's an issue that would make the angels laugh -- or cry. Ultimately, it's a matter of prayer and faith."
He recalled having witnessed religious persecution while serving in the military in Saudi Arabia, where he saw a man beheaded for his beliefs.
After he announced he intended to vote for the motion, Hoffman asked the crowd, "Do not applaud -- please."
Mayor Hobart, who announced on Feb. 15 he intended to vote against Rochester's resolution, said: "For the record to those who don't believe I am a Christian, nothing could be further from the truth. If it was just for me, I would vote yes on this."
He said citizens have contacted him about the proposal, saying 15 to1 they opposed changing the silent prayer policy. Many, he said, are members of Cornerstone and of Hoffman's church, Heartland Community Baptist.
"I don't believe problems of Sioux City are due to silent prayer. ... God can multitask. God is able to read hearts of every individual.
"I'm sorry it came to this. Maybe it's been good for the city to review our beliefs."
At the conclusion of his remarks, Hobart said, "I'd like to apologize for any divisive statements I've made and hope we can come together as a community."
Marcia Waitt was among citizens who opposed the spoken prayer, saying: "If I were a practicing Muslim, Buddhist or Wiccan, I would be offended. I am a Christian, by the way."
And Ginny Davenport said: "Prayer is simply talking to God. What is wrong with asking him to guide us?"
Lynn Zerschling may be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynn.zerschling@lee.net
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JWK wrote on Mar 25, 2008 12:15 AM:
Real Servant to the People, not to PAC wrote on Mar 4, 2008 10:03 PM:
Servant to the people wrote on Mar 4, 2008 11:53 AM:
Mr. Rixner with all his years of working with the Native American Tribes should have known how the power of prayer and giving thanks is a spiritual and powerful way. But he chose not to vote yes. These two men, i have lost respect for and can only pray for them. Please dont seek re-election gentlemen.
"
Local Pastor wrote on Mar 1, 2008 12:27 PM:
President Lyndon Johnson once asked Bill Moyers to lead in prayer at a White house staff meeting. Since Rev Moyers was at the far end of the table and praying softly, President Johnson said loudly, "I can't hear you, Bill." Rev. Moyers replied, "I wasn't talking to you, Mr. President." "
CHERRY wrote on Feb 29, 2008 3:15 PM: