Prayer continues to open county meeting

JACKSON — Northampton County Commissioners voiced their disapproval Monday of a recent recommendation in Forsyth County about the use of prayer before meetings.

Northampton County Commissioner Chairman Robert V. Carter said even though this is happening in Forsyth, “it will filter down. I want the board to determine what direction it should go in the future,” he said.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has been fighting for the last two years to continue to open its meetings sectarian prayer. Earlier this month, Judge Trevor Sharp issued a recommendation which the board’s prayer policy violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which bars government from establishing a religious practice.

He writes in his recommendation to the U.S. District Court “as exemplified by plaintiffs’ affidavits and deposition testimony, the defendant’s prayer alienates those whose beliefs differ from Christian beliefs and divides citizens along religious lines.”

The Rev. James Hester said he didn’t believe anyone in Northampton County would challenge the prayers offered at the county meetings.

“Northampton County is basically a Christian county,” he said. “People have lost homes and jobs. The book I try to live by gives hope. My trust and prayers are with God. I have no problem with the opening prayer.”

Hester added until someone had an issue with it, there was no need to change it.

Vice Chairwoman Fannie P. Greene agreed with him. “If there is ever a time we needed prayer, it’s now,” she said. “I think it needs to stay as is. Right now, we need prayer.”

Virginia Spruill said she was an individual who believed prayer was needed now more than ever.

“I don’t know how to do a prayer without calling on Jesus,” she said. “If I must abide by the law, I’d rather make my prayer silently than to openly defy the court.”

Carter said, “The Northampton Board of Commissioners will continue to open meeting with prayer until such time we are challenged. If challenged, we will take further action.”

He added he felt “99.9 percent of the Northampton citizens have a Christian background and believe in the Lord, Savior and Jesus Christ.”

Carter stated, “We will continue to act until we are challenged.”