Clark County Commission meetings start with prayer

With heads bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped, Clark County commissioners pray before every meeting.

They ask for wisdom, guidance and understanding to debate issues and question information before making decisions that affect the whole community. They ask to be reminded of their calling, whom they serve and to approach the job with humility.

Their spiritual guides shine in the commission chamber spotlight for only a few minutes. But their messages seem to impact elected leaders as they go about their business. For local clergy, having a chance to pray publicly comes with its own challenges, as they aim to be inclusive of those seated in the room regardless of their religious beliefs.

While the practice of praying at a government function appears contrary to the Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court has made an exception for legislative bodies as long as they do not promote one religion over another. The tradition of prayer before county government meetings is one that has lasted locally for decades, and nationally for about 200 years.

It's a practice strongly supported by commissioners, whose religious beliefs greatly differ.

Commissioner Tom Collins, who is Mormon, views the prayers as inspiration that, at times, points to the contentious side of policymaking. At times, clergy have asked a higher power to ensure that commissioners have enough information when making decisions that affect the county budget, the economy and jobs.

"I usually catch that part, if there's something controversial in the community, they bring that to our attention to work it out," Collins said. "It's a request for unity and cooperation and doing good. That's what it's all about, doing good."

Discussing religion is not easy for Collins, who struggled to characterize his participation in the church, not wanting to delve too deeply into his personal beliefs.

"There are issues I have with the church right now," Collins said. "I'm not as active as I have been."

But he prays every morning, and "more than once a day, I stop and pause and pray," he added.

"As an individual, I pray for guidance, to have good feelings and to overcome bad feelings," Collins said. "I don't just pray for health and happiness, but to make good decisions on my own every day."

COUNTY GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PRAYER

County officials use guidelines for praying publicly from the National Conference for Community and Justice, an organization of diverse religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds that emphasizes learning to "live together without bigotry or discrimination and without compromising distinctive faiths."

For the Rev. Linda L. Kelly, of Mountain View Presbyterian Church in the northwest valley, preparing to give public prayer at commission meetings begins with prayer. Kelly, who has prayed in front of commissioners for about nine years, stresses the importance of being universal.

"I'm giving thanks for them without thanking a specific person, but also speaking of the fact that we need them to have the ability to use limited resources," Kelly said. "In our economic times, we have limited resources, but we also want them to be gifted with the creativity and resourcefulness to use what we have for the common good."

Kelly said politics do not play a role in the prayer.

"I'm praying for the people who are being served and the people serving us," Kelly said. "It's about putting them and the needs of the community before God."

Even that term, "God," is carefully selected, she added.

"I've used 'God of flowing times and seasons,' and I've often used 'God of great challenge and endless opportunity,' " Kelly said. "We would not use specifics that make it either Christian or Jewish or Hindu. That opens it up for whomever is praying. That allows them to insert their own words for those."

Although the U.S. Supreme Court allows for it, Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the practice could make nonreligious people un­comfortable, though no one has formally complained about that in Clark County.

"One argument is by having prayers, even if they're generally mentioning God, that is still religion over non­religion," Lichtenstein said. "But the Supreme Court has said as long as it is not sectarian that it's 'de minimis' because it's not promoting a specific kind of belief."

Other references to God within the government setting are considered ceremonial, he added.

'A PEACEFUL TRANSITION'

Commissioner Steve Sisolak, a devout Catholic, said the prayers before meetings are "a time of solitude and reflection."

"It gives me pause to think about what we're doing and why we're doing it," Sisolak said. "For me, the community sees we are individuals who take time, pause and reflect on the decisions and policies that we're faced with. It helps me put things into perspective."

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in February, fell on the same day as a county zoning meeting this year. Sisolak attended the meeting with a cross of ashes smudged on his forehead, a very public sign of expressing sorrow for repentance.

"I'm a firm believer," Sisolak said.

Commissioner Larry Brown, also a Catholic, said the opening prayer at meetings reflects the critical services county government offers in safety, social well-being and quality of life.

"What is consistent is that message of peace, of quality of life, of the value of human beings that needs no denomination," Brown said. "It's certainly a core value that most people share. ... (The prayer) is a peaceful transition into what sometimes becomes a chaotic day."

Commissioners Susan Brager, Chris Giunchigliani and Lawrence Weekly could not be reached for comment.

For Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, a Mormon, the prayer is "a reminder there's a bigger picture, and it helps me focus on people."

"I'm reminded that I'm a representative of individuals, and everything I do affects them," Scow said. "I'm not doing this for me. I always think before I make a decision, 'Would I want this to happen to me or my family?' I'm prayerful about my decisions."

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.