A council in Staffordshire is facing criticism after it ditched the saying of prayers at the beginning of its meetings. The move comes despite the Government writing to all local councils in England telling them that new laws restore their power to hold prayers at official meetings. The original case was brought against Bideford Council by the National Secular Society, after councillor and atheist Clive Bone complained about the prayers (See Prayer Alert 07 & 08-2012) Bideford town council has decided not to reinstate their prayer meetings due to concerns that new Government powers to protect the practice are not strong enough. A church minister usually leads the prayers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, but following a ‘compromise’ move, people who want to pray at council meetings must now do so separately 15 minutes beforehand. The move has provoked criticism from The Daily Express newspaper which said in an editorial: ‘The role of Christianity in our national life does not threaten freedom but bolsters it’.

Pray: that prayers within council meetings will continue to be recognised as central and that the recent judgement will be strengthened. (Ps.9:19)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/concern-at-council%E2%80%99s-move-to-scrap-prayers/