A long-standing tradition of saying prayers before meetings of the full Isle of Wight Council are being abolished - after the new chairman said he didn't agree with it.
Councillor keeps fighting over discriminatory prayers. A COUNCILLOR S 16-year campaign to end prayers at meetings of the Isle of Wight Council has finally succeeded after he became chair. The issue was due to be a motion on the agenda of the first full council meeting last night (Wednesday) after the election, but with Cllr Geoff Brodie becoming chair it was at his discretion whether or not the practice would continue. While prayers are said at other local authorities, it is at the discretion of the chair as to whether the practice takes place. Under the previous chair, former Cllr George Cameron, prayers were said by archdeacon, The Ven Peter Leonard.
Prayers as part of Isle of Wight council meeting ‘discriminates in so many ways’ argues councillor
The Isle of Wight council say there is no necessity for prayers to be part of the full council meeting
An Isle of Wight councillor is trying once again to end prayers being said at the start of full Isle of Wight Council meetings.
Since 2005, when he was elected, Cllr Geoff Brodie has been fighting the practice and has submitted his latest motion in hopes of seeing it finally passed.
End prayers as part of the meeting
Set to be heard at the full council meeting next week (26th May), Cllr Brodie’s motion says,
Councillor keeps fighting over discriminatory prayers. I JUST want it to stop a councillor is trying once again to end prayers being said at the start of full Isle of Wight Council meetings. Since 2005, when he was elected, Cllr Geoff Brodie has been fighting the practice and has submitted his latest motion in hopes of seeing it finally passed. Set to be heard at the full council meeting next week (May 26), Cllr Brodie s motion says: Council, in recognition of the diversity of religious beliefs and no beliefs in the community we represent, resolves to end the practice of offering largely Christian prayers as a formal part of the opening proceedings of full council meetings.