Pro-secular councillors have successfully blocked an attempt by colleagues to have Christian prayers reinstated in the formal meetings at a New South Wales local government. 

Last week, five councillors voted against a motion that sought to impose prayers at Wingecarribee Shire Council, located in the state’s Southern Highlands and including towns such as Mittagong and Bowral.

Two of the councillors made defiant speeches against the proposal that had the backing of local church leaders.

Four councillors voted to bring back prayers at the start of meetings in order to make them more “inclusive” for Christians.

Wingecarribee council removed the prayers from its meetings in 2022 after a public consultation found overwhelming support for doing away with the practice.

At last Wednesday’s meeting, Councillor Therese Duffy presented letters from church leaders in support of reintroducing prayers and argued that council needed to be more inclusive of Christians.

“We are constantly looking for more opportunities for inclusiveness. Over half of our residents identified as Christian at the last Census. Not having a prayer is, by its nature, not being inclusive,” she said.

Councillor Duffy suggested that councillors who did not want to observe the prayer could leave the chamber.

“If individual councillors wish to not to be present for the prayer, they are welcome to respectfully leave the chamber for the duration of the prayer, as has been the situation for previous councillors,” she said.

“Having a prayer in the council chamber dates back to the 1940s and recognises that we as a nation acknowledge God. Our state and federal parliaments pray before the commencement of each session. Our national anthem mentions God in the third verse, and we all celebrate and have days off for Christmas and Easter, which are Christian holidays, no matter your belief.”

Councillor Heather Champion (pictured) gave a passionate speech on the need for council meetings to be secular and representative of the whole community.

“We have a responsibility to represent everyone in our community. It’s written in black and white in our job description in the Local Government Act that equality is important and we should respect the diversity of our population,” she said.

“Our community should see themselves represented without bias towards particular groups or implying favour in our decisions. That’s why government at all levels should be secular spaces – because this is how we respect religious differences.”

Councillor Champion said she would refuse to participate if her colleagues were to support the motion.

“… I am not a Christian. I should not be required to pray. And I should not be required to engage in prayer…,” she said.

“I support people’s right to pray, and they should do it on their own time. There is nothing stopping any of us from taking some time before our meetings to pray. This should not be imposed on others who choose not to.”

Councillor Duffy proposed that the following prayer be imposed on councillors:

Almighty God, we acknowledge the gift of life and the values that have shaped our community. We are grateful for the privilege of serving and seeking the well-being of all who live, work, or visit the Southern Highlands. Grant us wisdom and insight as we lead with justice, compassion, and care for the vulnerable. Bless our institutions and guide us in using resources wisely for the common good and future generations. We ask for your favour in all we do, seeking to fulfill our calling with integrity and purpose. Amen.

Councillor James Farrell said that having council prayers would be inconsistent with the right to freedom of religion or belief.

“It’s not right to compel others to conform to one’s religious beliefs or practices,” he said.

“Every member of the public, council staff and, indeed, councillors have the right to attend public meetings of council without the requirement to participate in any form of religious prayer or ceremony.”

Councillor Farrell noted that numerous councils in Queensland and Victoria had recently removed prayers on the basis that the practice likely breached human rights and anti-discrimination laws in those states.

Momentum is building across Australia for local governments and state and federal parliaments to replace exclusionary prayer rituals with practices that are more welcoming and reflective of the community’s diversity. Many councils have removed prayers in recent years, while increasing numbers of politicians in state and federal parliaments are calling for change.

The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively advocating for prayer rituals to be replaced with more appropriate practices in councils and parliaments. See the latest updates here.

Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.

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Image: Councillor Heather Champion – Wingecarribee (Facebook)