Prayers scrapped at Totnes Council Meetings

From the Herald Express 10 January 2007:

For centuries they [Totnes councillors] have started their meetings with prayers led by a local vicar. But now the council has axed prayers and replaced them with a "quiet moment of reflection" so that it can be "sensitive" to other peoples' needs. … The decision to axe the prayer sessions was passed as part of a major move to streamline the way the council runs itself … After the meeting Mrs Boswell [the Mayor], who is a Roman Catholic herself, explained: "Different people have different wishes. We wanted to give people the opportunity to think quietly in their own way."

This action has started the usual stream of complaints typical of which is that from Shadow Local Government spokesman Eric Pickles "Such absurd political correctness serves to undermine community cohesion and tolerance towards all religions." The mayor is reported as being "absolutely 'gobsmacked' at the reaction to the council decision. "I really don't understand why so many people are wasting their time. It is no big deal. I am absolutely astonished at the reaction". Apparently "The council decision was featured in The Sun, Daily Express, The Press Association and BBC television, along with most major internet news outlets, including mobile phone news agency giant Ananova."

Roger Green and Chris Clayton have responded to the editor on behalf of Devon Humanists.

Roger was quoted in the Express and Echo on 15 January:

Prayer axe shows 'integrity' say humanists.

… Association spokesman Roger Green said: "On behalf of the Devon Humanist Association may I express our support for the exceptional integrity shown by Totnes councillors in deciding to ban the vacuous gesture of prayers before council meetings. Times have moved on and it is no longer the case that the council, implicitly through an act of Christian prayer, can do so in the name of all the people of Totnes."

… Mr Green continued: "Two surveys published towards the end of last year for the first time provide evidence that, on the whole, British people are no longer supportive of traditional belief and practice in our culture."

He said the surveys had show that an overwhelming majority see religion "as a cause of division and tension" and 36 per cent of Britons (equivalent to 17 million people) prefer humanist answers to religious ones on questions of morality and the universe.

He added: "With respect to the views of local government spokesperson Eric Pickles, who tries to obfuscate the issue by turning it into one of political correctness, may I ask him what is more 'absurd', to try and put the practices of Totnes Council in accord with our society today or to believe the extraordinary things that, traditionally, Christians are supposed to believe?"

Chris's letter appeared on 17 January:

Dear Sir,

Totnes Town Council should be congratulated for their sensible and sensitive decision to replace Christian prayers with "a quiet moment of reflection" in which all can honestly share without being guilty of humbug. Even if all Town Councillors were practicing Christians, which they are not, they represent a diverse community of people with many faiths and none, including growing numbers of Humanists like myself who throughout Devon try to live lives based on reason and concern for all, regardless of religion, race or other characteristics which divide rather than unite us. It is very pleasing to see that there are, in public life, thoughtful religious people who share these values with us. Totnes Town Council are setting an example which I hope will be followed by those Local Authorities in the County who have not yet adopted a similar sensible approach.

With regard to the inevitable attempt by some people to turn it into a political issue with the much over-used claim that it is 'politically correct', I suggest they are half right. If they remove the word 'politically' and keep the word 'correct' they will be on the right lines.

Yours Faithfully

Christopher Clayton
Devon Humanists

Devon Humanists member Hazel Fuller has written to the Totnes Times (17 January):

The Editor,

I am delighted that the Totnes Town Council, a secular organisation representing townspeople of many faiths and none, has decided to replace its Christian prayer with a short period of quiet reflection. This gives everyone at the meetings an opportunity to prepare themselves for the matters to be discussed and, if they feel a need for it, to ask for guidance from somewhere outside themselves.

An organisation such as a town council is there to discuss the affairs of the town. Churches are there to minister to people's spiritual needs. Both have their place but they don't need to be combined. And, especially in a town like Totnes, people have a wide range of faiths and beliefs, some orthodox and some less so. Many, like me, are non-believers in a God but, hopefully, we all have a moral sense and share in a concern for the good of our neighbours and fellow townspeople.

As an atheist and a Humanist I have always been uncomfortable in situations where it is taken for granted that I wish to pray. When I was a social worker and appeared in court to represent children, I used to affirm because that felt more honest than swearing on a book I didn't believe in. I have now joined the Devon Humanists and am the local contact for the group in Totnes and surrounding area so if anyone reading this wishes to know more about an alternative to organised religion that is based on moral values and concern for other people and the world we live in they are welcome to contact me

Hazel Fuller, Dartington

The immediate response to Hazel's letter to the Totnes Times, a copy of which was sent to the Town Clerk, was a phone call from the Mayor, Pru Boswell, thanking her for her support as she had felt overwhelmed with negative responses from other sources. Two new potential members also contacted her after reading the letter which contained information about the local Humanist grouop.

Hazel also notes further correspondence in the Totnes Times from Bob Mann and Martin Gilbert and Lilian Brown (jpg files).