Christina Jedra

The News Journal

The Wilmington City Council will no longer start its meetings with a prayer and an "amen."

The prayer, or invocation, has been removed from the council agenda and replaced by a "silent reflection."

City Council President Hanifa Shabazz sponsored legislation with the new council rules that was voted on and approved Jan. 3.

"Throughout the years there have been various constituents who have questioned the separation between church and state and felt the prayer was not ... proper in a legislative process," she said.

Shabazz, who is Muslim, said the prayer didn't offend her, but she felt a silent reflection better served the city's diverse population.

"If people want to pray, they can," she said. "If they want to take a deep breath, they can."

The prayer, according to the city clerk, was as follows: "Our heavenly Father, as we gather together to make laws affecting the citizens of Wilmington, we ask your guidance so that our intentions and actions are in accordance with thy will and according to your word! Amen."

City Councilwoman At-Large Loretta Walsh, a Roman Catholic, remembers the prayer from when she started on the council in 1985.

"It was the same one every week for God knows how many years," she said. "I'm not sure how much anyone paid attention to it."

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Walsh said she is a "firm believer in separation of church and state."

"By having a moment of reflection, since we have most religion groups represented on this floor, it gives us a chance to say our own private prayer," she said.

Mark Perri, a member of Faith Leaders for Neighborhood Ministries, said he welcomes the change.

"We can't presume we all worship the same way," said Perri, who works for Wilmington in Transition. "A moment of silence is a good way to collect ourselves."

Religion still plays a role in some city government traditions.

The mayor, city treasurer and council members took their oaths of office with hands on bibles earlier this month, and their inauguration was bookended with words from a preacher.

Contact Christina Jedra at (302) 324-2837, on Twitter @ChristinaJedra or cjedra@delawareonline.com.