Fraser Coast council to vote on traditional Christian prayer opening
There’s been a change in plans to debate a Christian prayer tradition at council meetings. It comes after the move sparked a war of words among Queensland councillors including an Origin great.
Fraser Coast
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A Queensland council will be asked to consider whether the tradition of opening meetings in Christian prayer should continue or be broadened to Buddhism, Islam and “inspirational” words of wisdom.
The move has sparked divisive, albeit colourful debate, from both sides in Local Government ranks across the state.
The agnostic Fraser Coast councillor leading the charge claims being more inclusive “is what Christ would do” while NRL legend turned North Queensland councillor Martin Bella believes those supporting the change could put their views “where the sun doesn’t shine”.
Like its counterparts across the state and nation, the Fraser Coast Regional Council begins its public sessions with a prayer of blessing from a local church leader.
Councillor David Lewis however will ask his colleagues to agree to ask council officers for a “report on the feasibility of and process needed” to change the tradition and to switch out the word “prayer” for “reflection”.
The motion was due before council’s Wednesday meeting but Mr Lewis said on Tuesday he had asked council chief executive Ken Diehm to withdraw the motion after he had become unwell suddenly.
He was being treated in Brisbane for a health condition and would not be able to attend this week so wanted to wait until he could be there to speak in favour of the motion.
The qualified lawyer said last week if the council were only to invite “white, Anglo-Saxon males” to speak they’d “quite rightly be condemned for racism and sexism … and we have to be conscious there’s also religious discrimination”.
He claimed the catalyst for the motion was recent Census data which, as listed on the council meeting agenda, showed “Christian religions reflect only about half of our population (41 per cent of Fraser Coast respondents said they had no religious affiliation and 52 per cent followed a Christian religion)”.
“We will be a more inclusive council if we can, from time to time, include representatives of other religions, including eg Buddhist, Jewish and (Muslim) religions,” the agenda notes state
“Further, it is appropriate to cater for the possibility of non-religious reflections from thinkers or writers who have something to offer in similar vein.”
The vote however is likely to come down to the wire with several councillors agreeing Australia was founded upon Judaeo-Christian values and at the opening session of all levels of government with a prayer had been a tradition since Federation.
On a standard Sunday, at least four of the Fraser Coast’s councillors – deputy mayor Paul Truscott, Phil Truscott, David Lee, and Daniel Sanderson also attend evangelical Christian churches in Maryborough and Hervey Bay.
All were asked about how their personal faith would influence their decision and beliefs aside, whether they would support broadening the opening prayer to other religions/speakers.
The deputy mayor said his colleague, Mr Lewis, had been discussing the topic “on and off for years internally … ultimately wanting the opening prayer to be removed”.
He said as a “follower of Jesus Christ”, he didn’t support the move personally but also, as the council currently had numerous staff vacancies, “asking officers to write a report, that will cost the ratepayers thousands of dollars, taking staff away from valuable projects where their efforts are actually required, to change something that no one from the community has asked me for nor will it make an impact to the community at large, I personally find to be an unnecessary waste of public time and resources”.
Councillor Lee said he would “stridently and consistently defend our Christian traditions, because sadly, in a general sense, there has been progressive attempts to remove Christian customs and celebrations from the public square”.
He said any decision he made as a councillor was influenced by a “rational assessment of the issue(s), my knowledge and life experiences and my Christian faith” and a Christian prayer, including the Lord’s Prayer had “featured in the Westminster system of government since the mid to late 16th Century”.
Mr Sanderson said his personal belief was there was “no need to challenge this, nor the need to change” a generations-long tradition.
“We have been placed where we are by God and his people to serve the people, and no better man and person who served all people is Jesus – in whom we can honourably and gratefully commit our plans and actions to, to help lead everyone within our community into a better future,” Mr Sanderson said
“Prayer shouldn’t be a last resort. It should be our first line of defence.
“Our world needs hope, not for hope to be taken away.”
Councillor Phil Truscott said “levels of freedom in any country … flow from its beliefs” and the Census data Mr Lewis was relying on revealed “Christianity is still the most widely embraced religion among Australians”.
“The reality is that everyone in every country has a set of beliefs and values they live by, whether stated or not. The removal of any link with our historic beliefs only leaves a vacuum which will almost certainly attract other beliefs that are incompatible with those upon which our nation was based,” he said
“Let’s continue to be grateful for our heritage. Also, reports cost money and I am always mindful to save the ratepayer unnecessary expense”
Mr Lewis said he was shocked and perplexed by the reaction and suggested those who believed it was appropriate to favour Christianity over other religions would be better employed “at churches, not councils”.
Councillors James Hansen and Denis Chapman are also understood to hold traditional values but did not respond to a request for comment nor did Councillors Jade Wellings, Darren Everard and Zane O’Keefe.
Confirming he would vote in favour of the motion, Fraser Coast George Seymour said he supported the “concept of the separation of church and state”.
“As public representatives we are there to represent the community, not one particular religion or another,” Mr Seymour said
“In my private life I am a Christian, and I think that helps inform my views on kindness, empathy, and compassion; but as the mayor, I don’t believe we should be incorporating religious prayers into our official council meetings, particularly if we are doing so at the exclusion of other religions being practised by people we represent.”
It’s not the first time the debate over whether the prayer tradition is outdated, or an integral element of governance, has come before a Queensland council.
In 2020, the Brisbane City Council debated opposing petitions on the scrapping/changing of opening meetings with Christian prayer and ultimately decided to stay with it.
At the time, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the Brisbane Times “my view – and I’m speaking as Adrian Schrinner the person and not on behalf of the organisation here – of course I support the retention of the prayer, and the administration has in the past … I’m a bit of a traditionalist in that respect … there are parts of our culture that are continually evolving, but tradition is also important”.
The Brisbane City Council was asked this week whether changes had since been considered or were currently being considered and if Mr Schrinner maintained his position on the prayer debate.
A spokeswoman replied “at that time, we agreed to keep the prayer with the addition of an acknowledgment of the traditional custodians. Our position has not changed.”
Meanwhile, Mackay councillors were asked about their views on the move.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a strong opinion and they can go and jam that opinion as far as they can where the sun doesn‘t shine,” Mr Bella said
“Our whole system relates to Judaism Christian principles … how about we maintain our recognition our principles that our very foundation is built upon?”
“I think it’s the best system we’ve got.”
Mackay deputy mayor Karen May agreed opening prayers should remain as they were.
“The non-denominational way that our ministers deliver that prayer … it is genuinely focused on the greater good of the council and looking after the community and I think that’s very relevant to start the meeting,” she said
“Sometimes with the norm, people just want to upset it … if somethings working well, you don’t tamper with it.”
In Gympie, Councillor Dan Stewart has raised his own questions about opening meetings with a prayer, and which denominations should be invited.
Mr Stewart said he has asked Gympie Regional Council to consider how it opened its own meetings, not through a motion but as part of a wider review of procedures.
He said Queensland had become a religiously diverse place and “there are localities in the Gympie region where the majority of respondents to the Census religion question put down ‘no religion’ (as well as) small numbers of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and others in our community”.
“They are part of the community and contribute greatly to our community,” he said
“Why should words of wisdom come only from Christian clergy?”
He also challenged the idea of traditions saying while they could provide stability “they also need to be adjusted to remain relevant and meet community needs”
“Not all traditions are good, traditional marriage has the husband ruling over and even owning the wife,” Mr Stewart said.
“In 2017, Australians voted for marriage equality, going against church tradition.
“If Council is to be truly representative of the community, and we do live in a democracy, then that needs to be reflected in how we open our meetings and who we include.”
Pastor Ross Davie, who has led Bayside Christian Church in Hervey Bay for the past 21 years, said he was “very concerned about this motion as Australia’s constitution and history has been strongly established on Christian principles”.
“A reflection is not the same as a prayer of blessing from God,” Pr Davie said
“With 52 per cent of people stating their willingness to identify as Christian in the Fraser Coast, I don’t see the need to change what has been an important aspect of our public life.
“As far as I am aware, a prayer is still spoken to open each federal and state parliament sitting, as well as most regional council meetings.
“I have counted it an honour and a privilege to pray for God’s blessing on our council and community at many council meetings.
“The churches of Hervey Bay have prayed for and served this community in unity for many decades.”
The motion has been withdrawn and is expected to be tabled at a later date.
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