Wheaton edging toward guidelines for pre-meeting invocations

Wheaton is a vote away from adopting a local law providing guidelines for its long-standing tradition of offering religious invocations before city council meetings.

Council members Tuesday approved a first reading of the proposed ordinance, which is meant to bring the city into compliance with federal law. A final vote is expected March 1.

Mayor Michael Gresk said he doesn't foresee any problems with the guidelines getting final approval - and with Wheaton continuing its invocations.

"If you are against public prayer in general, I can understand that," Gresk said Wednesday. "But it's legal, and I also think it fits the style, the mentality and the spirit of our community."

Wheaton officials decided to set standards for pre-meeting invocations after a national group urged the council to discontinue the practice.

The city's attorney says having an invocation doesn't violate the First Amendment as long as it doesn't exclude any faiths. As part of the guidelines council members are reviewing, all religious leaders in the community formally would be invited to provide an invocation. Even religious leaders from outside the city could participate.

According to Wheaton's proposed ordinance, religious leaders would be encouraged not to use their prayer "as an effort to convert others to a particular faith of the invocation speaker, nor to disparage any faith or belief different from that of the invocation speaker."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation in October sent a letter to Wheaton informing the council is violating federal law by opening regular meetings with a prayer. The foundation contacted the city after resident Theodore Utchen complained to city council members that he can see no good reason for prayers to be included as part of the council's official business.

Councilman John Prendiville said he is confident the ordinance can withstand any legal challenges.

"I think we're on very firm ground," he said. "The ordinance is based on one that's been tested in the courts in other places. I think it's a reasonable thing to do."