R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
The decision of Dartmouth Town Councillor Brian Broughton to wear an i-Pod during prayers at his council meeting is causing a lively debateon ConservativeHome (with some pretty appalling use of language). Cllr Broughton has taken offence at the prayers held before the council’s meetings and decided to wear an i-Pod as a protest. Other councillors said that they found this disrespectful.
The question as to whether prayers have a place before a public meeting continues to be raised. On one hand, this is still a country with an established Church, part of the Establishment itself, just like local and national government. On the other, this is a multicultural society, where there are a range of beliefs and, as recognised by Barack Obama in his inauguration speech, those who have no belief.
I am a member of two councils. There is no tradition of prayers at our 110+ year old Parish Council meetings, and we seem to manage just fine. However our District Council, formed only 35 years ago, has prayers before each full Council meeting, six times a year. I say ‘prayers’ because they are not always Christian, nor are the Christian prayers usually Anglican. Last month, we had prayers in Armenian, which translations thoughtfully placed on our desks. Maybe the most important point is that the prayers preceed the meeting, rather than being the first item on the agenda, therefore making it easy for those who do not wish to be present to come in just before the meeting starts, together with those held up on the M25, those grabbing a last nicotine fix and anyone still photocopying papers for their pet item on the agenda. The papers for the meeting state:
NOTE AS TO PRAYERS: David Stephan from the Armenian Church will read Prayers at 7.25pm. Members who are not already in their places are requested to refrain from entering the Chamber during the reading of prayers. Sufficient time will be allowed for Members to do so after the close of prayers in order that the business of the meeting may begin at 7.30pm.
Now I think that works for everyone. And the effect is that most people come in for ‘prayers’ regardless of their faith, or lack of and the meeting starts with a period of quiet reflection, which usually doesn’t last very far into the meeting! But it shows respect, not only for those who do not wish to be present, but also for the person leading the prayers, as they have a willing audience.
What disappoints me about Cllr Broughton is not that he didn’t want to be present for prayers; he has every right to feel that way and to have that view respected. It’s that he couldn’t find a way to respect the prayers that were being said and the fact that this had been recently supported in a vote of councillors. Maybe what we need is a good old British compromise, along Three Rivers lines?
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Comments
28 January 2009, 11:50 am
Why should he be obliged to respect the prayers? If he were to enter into a religious space certainly that would be rude. But the case is instead the opposite, and if you (by vote or otherwise) bring prayer into an arena where those present may find it of no interest, why should this confer any obligations upon them?
28 January 2009, 12:36 pm
Tinter, I often don’t find the interjections of members of other parties very interesting or pertinent – but I don’t put my i-Pod on. As the title of the blog suggests, it’s about respect – for everyone.
28 January 2009, 12:41 pm
I’m puzzled as to why he civic buildings are being used for religious prayer anyway.
I don’t think he’s being disrespectful, he’s not interupting, making a noise or anything, merely listening to something else.
Would it be better if he read a newspaper, or some other activity instead ?
I think the idea that councillors are shut out of a meeting room so that a handful of religious people can have their personal spiritual whims catered to is crazy.
Having to sit through somebody elses personal and private religious activities is considerably more offensive than just explicitly ignoring them.
28 January 2009, 9:03 pm
Mr Broughton did not act in act in the spirit of legitimate opposition or protest. The councillor in question has had ‘difficult’ relationships with most of his co-councillors and was purely an act of vindictive and futile gesture politics.
Years ago whilst a councillor on Leicestershire county council, prayers were said before full council meetings. Some delayed their entry to the council chamber until they were finished, some used the time for quiet reflection, others participated in the proceedings. No offense was caused to anyone. Respect, as W+W says, was righfully afforded to the majority that wished to see a tradition continue.
Today I believe that Leicester City Council, in light of the multi-faith communities that make up the city, start meeting with contributions that reflect the make up of that city. Quite right too in my view. As a Christian, I have no quarrel with this.
In short it is Brian Broughton’s repeatedly divisive and disruptive contributions that do Dartmouth council and it’s citizen’s a disservice.
I for one, loathe the British national anthem as a fierce republican, but would always stand up for such to show due respect to those whom it is important to.
Whatever else don’t point to Brian Broughton as some paragon of virtue – he isn’t !