Citizen Calls Fluvanna BOS to Prayer

A few weeks ago while a few folks gathered in my living room to pray for our country and community, Doug Johnson noted that our local School Board and Board of Supervisors do not open their sessions with an invocation. I thought that was odd. Our local Republican committee opens each committee meeting with prayer. I attended a Chamber of Commerce luncheon a few months ago, and they opened their meeting with prayer.

Doug pointed out that our US Congress opens every session with a word of prayer, since it's first session following the Constitutional Convention in 1787 through our present day. Why don't our local bodies of government open their sessions with prayer?

So I suggested we ask each of these Boards to do so at the next opportunity.

While I was not able to attend the next BOS meeting, Faith Stuart did, and she made the suggestion during one of the "public comments" portions of the agenda. Evidently there was some discussion amongst the Board members and the Board's attorney, Mr. Paine concerning this request following her comment. It seems that they did open each session with prayer at one time but ceased after someone took issue with it. No names were mentioned as to who had the issue with it, but at least two of the individuals in the courtroom recollected who that person was.

There's a BOS meeting scheduled this Wednesday, June 17th at 7PM. I plan on making an appearance and reading the following excerpt from Dr. Benjamin Franklin's speech given at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 during the public comments of the BOS meeting myself:

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. ”Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service. [SOURCE]

I hope to point out that although no clergy was called upon to officiate prayers during that convention, the first Act of Congress following this Convention was to institute a chaplaincy program that exists to this day. Each session of Congress begins with prayer to the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe. It would behoove our local government to implore His assistance and blessings on their deliberations as well.

My concluding remarks will be:

I, too believe that without His concurring aid the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, being the local governing body for this county, shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: You, too shall be divided by your little partial local interests; your projects will be confounded, and you yourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future generations. I'm afraid this has already begun to happen. I beg you to consider this regular call to prayer once again. Fluvanna County needs His assistance. Thank you.

Please pray for me as I deliver these remarks.