A simpler solution to prayer issue

To the editor:

The issue of invocations at City Council meetings would seem to have a much simpler solution than the several discussed thus far. Unless my count is way off, there are at least as many scheduled City Council meetings per year as there are religious denominations, of all persuasions, in Baker County. It would seem appropriate to schedule (with no substitutions) each of the religious faiths to present an invocation at a specific Council meeting. Thus everyone would know if advance if the invocation would reference Jesus Christ or not.

If one preferred to not participate, even by mere presence, in a particular form of invocation s/he could simply wait until the invocation was complete before entering the Council chambers.

Some might argue that given the religious affiliations in Baker City there would likely be more prayers with references to Christ than not. So be it — no one is forced to participate. The simple facts are that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and that there are more Christians in our community than members of other faiths.

An advanced schedule of invocations protects the listener without forcing priests, rabbis and ministers to "water down" their prayers in deference to political correctness which several have been quoted as saying they would do. A Christian priest or minister who is reluctant to mention the central figure (Christ) in the religion he represents is acting cowardly and perhaps ought to re-examine his commitment to his ministry.

Jerry Boyd

Baker Cit