Public Finds Way Around Prayer Ban at IR School Board Meetings

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Prayers are heard at Indian River School Board meetings, but they are not coming from elected officials.

Community members are leading the push to recite prayers during the public comment section of the meeting after a court ruled the board's practice of opening meetings with a primarily Christian prayer is unconstitutional.

"It's time that we stand up for our right to pray," said Eric Bodenweiser of Georgetown, who wrote and read a prayer at Tuesday night's board meeting.

Bodenweiser, who once ran in the Republican primary for state Senate in the Georgetown area, joined Don Ayotte of Georgetown in reciting prayers.

"We ask that you be with us tonight to give us your guidance and that everything that is said and done here will honor and glorify you," read part of Bodenweiser's prayer.

The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit banned the board from its prayer practice in a ruling from August, 2011. In January, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the board - effectively upholding the lower court's ruling. The original suit was filed in 2005 by two families with children in the district, including one of Jewish faith.

However, the case did not tackle the issue of prayer during the part of the meeting reserved for members of the public to address the board.

Members of the board may not be able to lead the prayer, but members of the public say they can, and they will.

The school district's attorney has not objected to prayers during public comment, said school board president Charles Bireley in a telephone interview. After the August ruling, the board opted for a moment of silence instead of a prayer while the case was appealed. However, Bireley said the board has stopped both practices until it receives legal recommendations from its attorney, Bireley said.

Some said prayer during public comment is a matter of free speech.

"They've been given the opportunity to say what they want," said Shelly Thomas of Bridgeville.

While the original debate was focused on the board's use of a Christian prayer, people of other faiths were encouraged to offer prayers during public comment, according to Bodenweiser.

"This is America. We've got Muslims and Jews and Christians and other sects out there," Bodenweiser said. "Whoever wants to come, come on. The more, the merrier."

Bodenweiser said he plans to ask others to pray at school board meetings each month.