Kalamazoo Township ends opening prayers

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees voted last month to end the practice of opening their meetings with prayer:

In November, the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees discontinued the practice of opening meetings with prayer, which had been done for more than 30 years.

Newly elected Supervisor Terri Mellinger, while noting she is of a “strong Christian faith,” said the board was unanimous in deciding that prayer at government meetings may foster an environment in which all citizens may not feel welcome to participate.

The Gazette editorial board took a middle position on the issue on Sunday, arguing:

In communities where the long-held norms have been faith-based, there’s not a thing wrong with public bodies offering an invocation at the start of a public meeting. No one is compelled to participate, not even public officials.

In communities where the officials elected by the public choose not to start their meetings with prayer — and there are many in southwestern Michigan — there should be no pressure from outsiders to institute public prayer.