Members of the Tulsa City Council voted 8-1 in January to end the practice of opening its meetings with prayers led by volunteers. The council will instead implement a “moment of silent prayer or personal reflection.”
The change comes in part in response to a flap that occurred last year after Amy Hardy-McAdams, co-owner of a Pagan- and Wicca-themed business in Broken Arrow, Okla., was invited by a member of the Tulsa City Council to deliver a guest invocation before a meeting.
Even though Christians frequently gave guest invocations, the inclusion of a Pagan caused some state officials to go off the rails. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) tweeted, “Satan is trying to establish a foothold, but Oklahoma is going to be a shining city on the hill. Tulsa City Council needs to stand against actions like this, and Tulsans need to remember who allowed this at the ballot box.”
Ryan Walters, the state superintendent of public instruction, also felt compelled to weigh in — even though the incident had nothing to do with public education in the state.
“Satanic prayers are welcome in Hell but not in Oklahoma,” Walters tweeted. “Satanism is not a religion. Tulsa should immediately move to ensure this never happens again and the person who allowed it should be held accountable.”
Members of the Tulsa City Council said dropping the vocal invocations would make their meetings more welcoming to all, reported Public Radio Tulsa.
Council member Laura Bellis said she was motivated to act after hearing from constituents in the wake of the controversy over Hardy-McAdams’ invocation.
“That really gave the impetus to say, ‘I don’t want anyone to be in one of our government meetings and feel that what’s being shared is alienating to them or unwelcoming or infringing on their sincerely held beliefs,’” she said.