Kennewick Councilman John Trumbo wants to open meetings with prayer. Here’s our concerns

John Trumbo has wanted Kennewick City Council meetings to begin with prayer ever since he won his elected seat eight years ago.

The first time he brought the issue up in 2014 it was quickly shot down by all six of his fellow council members — and rightly so.

But now the topic has officially resurfaced.

Trumbo sent the Herald a letter to the editor alerting the public that his proposal will be considered at the council’s Tuesday workshop session, beginning at 6:30 pm.

In part, his letter states, “… I still believe calling upon our God for help, wisdom and guidance is proper and wise. Now, more than ever. I urge Kennewick citizens to step up on July 12 and respectfully, by quiet and peaceful presence, show our respect, dependence, and allegiance to our Creator and Protector — our Heavenly Father. We say we are ‘one nation under God.’ Let’s show it.”

Public comment is not taken during council workshop meetings, but that doesn’t mean citizens can’t contact city council members ahead of time with their thoughts.

In fact, it would be great if they did.

Council members will have a better discussion Tuesday night if they already have a sense of how their constituents feel about Trumbo’s request.

The last time Trumbo suggested opening city council meetings with prayer, the community reaction was not supportive.

Sure, there were Tri-Citians who applauded his efforts. But the majority saw government-forced prayer as problematic.

Our opinion at the time was that religion is personal, and forcing it into a public arena where it is not enthusiastically welcome is bound to cause tension instead of the harmony that is typically sought by praying.

And yes, we are well aware that Congress and other governing bodies in our state and across the country begin meetings with prayer. We are also aware that the U.S. Supreme Court recently voted 6-3 in favor of the Bremerton football coach who was fired for leading prayers in the middle of the football field after games.

But Trumbo’s mission to insert religion into civic meetings has the potential to inject more division into the community, and the Tri-Cities, unfortunately, has enough of that already.

As Kennewick officials think about Trumbo’s proposal, they should consider that citizens of all different faiths — or with no faith at all — come before the city council with requests and complaints.

Will people attending city council meetings in person feel compelled to bow their heads in prayer, even if they feel it is an empty gesture? Will they think their concerns won’t be taken seriously unless they comply?

How do you conduct a public prayer that doesn’t inevitably make some citizens feel uncomfortable?

These are serious questions that must be addressed.

In addition, there’s also the concern about who will say the prayers and how inclusive they will be. If an atheist wants to provide an invocation, or if a Wiccan wants to lead a prayer to Athena and Apollo, would that be allowed?

And don’t think such requests don’t happen.

When Trumbo first brought up the issue in 2014, it was on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing a town board in Greece, New York, to continue starting its meetings with a prayer.

Two regular attendees of those meetings, one Jewish and one atheist, filed suit over the continuous Christian prayers that made them feel detached from their community.

However, the court’s majority noted that Greece officials maintained that a minister, or layperson of any persuasion, including an atheist, could give the invocation. And when a Wiccan priestess asked to give the opening prayer, town leaders allowed it.

Such requests likely wouldn’t come up often, but if Kennewick City Council members decide to approve Trumbo’s proposal, they should be prepared.

Trumbo’s faith is important to him and he means well. But he should keep his focus on running the city — the job he was elected to do.

If he wants to pray privately before city council meetings, he should do so. He could even pray before the meeting starts, outside the chamber, with other city leaders as long as there wasn’t a quorum.

That way they can ask for God’s help without forcing religion in a public setting where it may not be welcome.

Or worse — resented.