Christina Jedra

The News Journal

After much debate and public input, Wilmington City Council this week introduced its new spoken prayer – written by a Pagan artist who makes magic wands.

The new council prayer is a combination of two passages from Abby Willowroot, said Council President Hanifa Shabazz.

Willowroot is a California-based folk artist and priestess who "has been Serving the Pagan, Wiccan, Gay, Earth Religions, New Age, Metaphysical, and Women's Communities with Symbols, Art and Writing since 1967," according to her website, spiralgoddess.com. Willowroot, who defines Paganism as believing that everything has a soul or spirit, sells witch-inspired jewelry and is the co-author of the book "The Common Book of Witchcraft and Wicca," according to GoodReads.com.

Shabazz said she wasn't aware of Willowroot's beliefs when she decided to use her work.

"It was given to me by one of my minister friends," Shabazz said. "I didn't do the research as to all of the background ... from the artist. I felt the message was what we wanted to articulate."

Shabazz said Willowroot's prayer will be used for at least the next four years.

The prayer is as follows:

In humility, gratitude and great joy

we open our hearts, our eyes, our ears, our minds,

as we meet to serve our city,

with the intent on doing good work,

to use our resources wisely and well,

to represent all members of our community fairly,

to make decisions that promote the common good.

We recognize our responsibility to the past and the future,

and the rights and needs of both individuals and community.

May our efforts be blessed with insight,

guided by understanding and wisdom.

As trusted servants, we seek guidance on our deliberations,

and on our efforts, may we act wisely and well,

and strive to reach our higher potential.

An attempt to contact Willowroot was unsuccessful.

Councilwoman Michelle Harlee, who is a pastor, said if it were up to her, the writer's Paganism "would matter."

"It matters to me, the spirit behind the prayer," she said. "But I represent a bigger community. Whatever the majority wants to do, I probably would be in agreement."

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Harlee said when she heard the prayer for the first time, she was OK with it.

"I'm for a prayer that is inclusive and not excluding anyone," she said. "There's nothing in there that would exclude anyone. It's not geared toward one religion or doctrine."

The council had used a different spoken prayer for decades: "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."

Council voted to replace that Christian prayer with a silent reflection in early January. Shabazz, who is Muslim, said the reflection would allow people to pray or not pray as they saw fit.

However, there was public backlash from devout residents and public officials, including Councilman Samuel L. Guy, who organized a community meeting to discuss the issue and drafted legislation to bring prayer back.

Shabazz, Councilwoman Yolanda McCoy and Guy ended up sponsoring legislation to institute a "universal prayer," but the word "universal" was axed at the Feb. 16 meeting so not to be confused with a particular prayer of that name. Almost all other council members were added to that document as co-sponsors, with the exception of Trippi Congo and Loretta Walsh. The altered resolution passed with approval by 11 of 13 members, with no votes from Walsh and Shabazz.

Earlier that day, Guy filed civil action in the Court of Chancery against City Solicitor Luke Mette and other city officials alleging that the prayer resolution he drafted was excluded from the agenda and that his constitutional rights were violated. He requested an expedited hearing on the matter, claiming he was at risk of "irreparable harm," but his request was denied by a judge.

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

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