’Some may even zone out’: What Clarence Council will do instead of an opening prayer

The Clarence Council has voted to scrap its opening prayer. Find out why + what they’ll do instead.

Clarence Deputy Mayor Heather Chong (Mayor candidate). Picture: Chris Kidd

The Clarence Council will scrap its opening prayer and replace it with a moment of reflection, after a vote on Monday.

The motion was moved by Councillor Heather Chong, who said the prayer did not represent the diverse community of Clarence.

“We are becoming an increasingly diverse community, including on matters of faith,’ Ms Chong said on Monday

“We are also increasingly a society that is more secular few of us attend churches of any religion.

“We need to show we recognise the diversity and changing nature.”

Cr Beth Warren, who previously moved a similar motion last term, said the prayer had become like “white noise”.

“It’s become too familiar or in many cases too irrelevant,” Ms Warren said.

“I’ve seen colleagues stand with closed eyes and bowed heads, echoing and emphatic ‘amen’ at the end, the proceeding to behave in a very unchristian like manner.

“Put simply, the prayer is not working.”

Beth Warren is running for Clarence Mayor. Picture: Linda Higginson

Cr Jade Darko said it was a matter of respect.

“As an atheist who was raised catholic who saw how deeply people of faith hold their faith, I feel as though it’s disrespectful for me to observe a prayer that I don’t believe in,” Ms Darko said.

Cr Allison Ritchie said the prayer shouldn’t simply be removed and replaced with nothing.

“It doesn’t make sense to me, to exclude one group, to create an environment of inclusiveness for others,” Ms Ritchie said.

“Removing the opening prayer without the replacement of anything at all heads down that pathway.

“I think we should do more than cover Christian denominations.”

Cr James Walker moved amendment that the council trial a moment of reflective silence in lieu of the prayer.

“A period of reflective silence offers choice,” Mr Walker said.

Clarence councillor Heather Chong and councillor James Walker. Picture: Chris Kidd

“People of faith can use that opportunity should they wish to recite a prayer.

“Others can choose just to reflect on the future … some may even zone out

The inclusion of a reflective silence will be trialled for three months.

‘Times have changed’: Council shouldn’t say a little prayer

The opening prayer at Clarence Council meetings could be scrapped and replaced with a moment of quiet reflection, a possibility the Clarence Council will debate tonight.

Councillor Heather Chong will bring on the motion to discuss removing the prayer.

“We’ve had a council prayer for a long time, whilst there was a time when this was appropriate, society’s changed, we’re a lot more secular,” Ms Chong said.

“If we’re going to represent our community we should be more inclusive.

“We need to think about that and who we’re representing and make sure they all feel included.”

Clarence Deputy Mayor Heather Chong. Picture: Chris Kidd

If passed, the council will look at, over coming months, whether reflective silence would be more appropriate.

“If you do a reflective silence, that gives people the time to consider what they want,” Ms Chong said.

“It could be faith based, it may just be a consideration of our roles and responsibilities.”

Ms Chong said Clarence was a diverse community.

“We had a citizenship ceremony last week, there were 30 people from 16 different countries,” Ms Chong said.

“We certainly have a big mix of nationalities, we’re going to get different faiths, it’s important we reflect that.”

A similar motion was moved in March by Councillor Beth Warren, who suggested the prayer be scrapped in favour of a minute’s silence, to follow the acknowledgement of country, which would be moved to the start of the meeting.

That push was opposed by then mayor, Doug Chipman, who argued the prayer was a generic prayer and not purely Christian.

Originally published as ’Some may even zone out’: What Clarence Council will do instead of an opening prayer