House to review prayer rules after Forsyth pastor complains : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

(MCT) — The N.C. House of Representatives said yesterday that it would review its procedures for guest chaplains after a Forsyth County pastor complained that he was prevented from praying in the name of Jesus.

Rev. Ron Baity, the pastor of Berean Baptist Church, was invited to give the opening prayer at House sessions during the week of May 31.

When he arrived at the House chamber, he provided his prayer in writing to a clerk as requested, Baity said yesterday. When the clerk saw that the prayer contained a reference to Jesus, she told him that there were people of many faiths attending and asked if he could drop the reference.

''My response to her was I am a Christian, and as a Christian I too can be offended, and I am offended if I cannot pray in the name of Jesus," Baity said.

In a joint statement late yesterday, though, House Speaker Joe Hackney and Minority Leader Paul Stam said they intended "to review our procedures and guidelines concerning guest chaplains, and we will make sure we abide by applicable constitutional procedures."

Such a review could result in the elimination of sectarian prayers. Most federal courts, including one ruling earlier this year in a Forsyth County case, have said that sectarian prayer at government meetings violates the Constitution.

Baity said he was allowed to give his prayer on May 31, but was told that his services would not be required for the rest of the week.

For many years, the House has requested, but not required, that guest chaplains deliver nonsectarian prayers.

''This is intended as a show of respect for all the religions practiced by the House and the people we represent," Hackney and Stam said in their statement.

Rep. Larry Brown, R-73rd, nominated Baity about a year ago to give the invocation at a House session. Brown said he didn't know about the guidelines on nonsectarian prayer.

''People are different," Brown said. "People pray differently. I just didn't think anything about it one way or the other."

Brown said he supports Baity's stance on sectarian prayer, without regard to religious traditions.

''If you make prayer available, you have to make prayer available to all religions," he said.

Baity, appearing yesterday morning before 150 supporters at his church, said that he wants an apology from Hackney and an invitation to come back to Raleigh to give the prayer without limits on what he can say.

Baity said he will do whatever it takes to resolve the conflict, and wouldn't rule out a lawsuit, saying that he wants a response within 10 days.

Lampost

July 9, 2010 - 6:52 am EDT

Praise GOD for Pastors like Ron Baity. Praying in any other name is just words.

kurt lauenstein

July 9, 2010 - 7:14 am EDT

Don't you just hate "just words?"

Panacea

July 9, 2010 - 8:00 am EDT

Baity shouldn't have been surprised at the request given recent controversy in his home county over this very issue.

The House has the right to withdraw its invitation if Baity isn't willing to follow their wishes. It's as simple as that. No one has a constitutional right to give an invocation. Baity's free speech were not violated in any way; he was asked to make a reasonable accommodation, he refused, and the invitation was withdrawn.

He can still pray any way he likes at home.

Hackney doesn't owe him a thing, and should stand his ground. Baity is choosing to be "offended" and should recall the phrases "render unto Casesar" and "turn the other cheek."

OneofHis

July 9, 2010 - 9:45 am EDT

"He can still pray any way he likes at home." I bet you would be very happy if we Christians would just crawl up in a corner and never say another word about Christ. As long as I have a breath in me while on earth I will NEVER be ashamed to proclaim Him whether in private or public. I can just sense you frothing over your keyboard in angst to reply to this comment. As we come down to the close of history it is evident that the battle between the children of satan and the children of God will increase in intensity. I am ready to stand for Jesus just as you are ready to defend your satanic beliefs! As the word says "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest." Isaiah 62:6 (I can just see the hornets' nest being stirred up from all those that are going to respond also that hate the mere mention of anyone that stands for Christ. Just watch the number of replies mount up!)

July 9, 2010 - 12:34 pm EDT

I am a Christian. I guide myself by Matthew 6:5-6.

No one is suggesting Christians be ashamed of their faith. No one is suggesting that Christians don't have a right to pray.

But the First Amendment is clear: government cannot endorse or promote a specific religious faith. Invocations that are non-sectarian are OK, because they are all inclusive. Prayers that specify a specific deity or faith are not OK.
.

lightshine

July 9, 2010 - 8:20 am EDT

As a christain it is our right to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus,but many things may be taken away but Praise our Lord Jesus that HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD and IS coming to take His children home soon!!

thestatelottery

July 9, 2010 - 9:28 am EDT

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE! Baity can pray to Jesus all he wants at his own church, the proper forum for doing so since people can choose to be there and participate. This issue is making me sick and is coming up too often recently. It was settled long ago.

July 9, 2010 - 9:29 am EDT

As an atheist, I shouldn't have to be involved in a prayer session at some public place that I can freely attend as a citizen of NC.

July 9, 2010 - 9:44 am EDT

There is no such thing as an atheist, only defiant, unrepentive sinners! You do not have complete knowledge to disprove the existance of God. The mere fact that the mention of someone talking to God upsets you is evidence you fear there may be one or else you would care less if someone was "talking to himself or not".

July 9, 2010 - 12:36 pm EDT

And you don't have complete knowledge to prove the existence of God. It's a null question on a scientific basis.

This issue isn't talking to God. The issue is invoking Jesus, or any other sectarian figure, in government functions. The Constitution does not allow it.

A-MAN

July 9, 2010 - 12:42 pm EDT

THE US WAS FOUNDED BY UNDER GOD AND WITH BELIEF IN GOD AND OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUPPORT NOT CONDONE THIS!! IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE US THEN GO TO A COUNTRY WHERE THEY BELEIVE IN YOUR RELIGION OR BELIEFS. BUT BE FORWARNED YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR YOUR SIN TO GOD HIMSELF SO SEEK HIM AND YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER!!!!

Gymnaseum

July 10, 2010 - 9:02 am EDT

This pastor is from Winston-Salem, where the council is appealing the decision on sectarian prayers. I think he is even part of the amicus briefs. So, he cannot plead ignorance of the issue. Rep. Brown is from just south, in Davidson County. To say he never gave it a thought strains credulity. IT is possible they are both incredibly oblivious. More likely, they were looking for a cause to champion. They got it. We don't get to see the context of the prayer, I notice. Did the pastor say anything to the effect of "We pray in Jesus' name, the only way to Heaven"? If he said, "And I humbly pray to my personal Savior, Jesus Christ", it would be a lot less like proselytism.

July 10, 2010 - 9:13 am EDT

I am very intrigued by the first post: praying any other way is "just words". Praying out loud requires words, unless one counts humming or la-la-ing a hymn. So, ifone says a prayer, with full intent and faith, addressed to "God", and then, rather than saying "in Jesus' name" out loud at the end, you paused for a half-second and "said" them to oneself, while allowing everyone else to say to themselves "Jesus" or "Christ" or "the Son of Man" or "Yahweh" or "Allah" or "Buddha" or....et al., would Jesus not hear your prayer? Would he be angry with you for not saying his name out loud and assuming everyone present should acquiesce? Does Jesus,in the Gospels, ever show anger at anyone who does not accept him as god? Does he ever demand people to worship him publicly?

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