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Johnson says Iredell board unfazed by Forsyth prayers lawsuit
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Published: November 17, 2009
When a federal magistrate in Winston-Salem ruled last week that Forsyth County Commissioners meetings had too much Jesus in their opening prayers, counties around the state started looking at their own meeting invocations policies to see how First Amendment-friendly they were.
Most governing bodies, including the U.S. Congress and General Assemblies throughout the country, convene their meetings with a call to the Almighty to bring other-worldly guidance to the affair.
Invocations at Iredell County Commissioners meetings are typically led by Commissioner Steve Johnson and almost always include entreaties to Jesus Christ or other allusions to the founder of Christianity.
But Magistrate Trevor Sharp issued a recommendation, in a case brought forth by two members of the Winston-Salem chapter of a group called American United for Separation of Church and State, in which Sharpe concluded that prayers at Forsyth County Commissioners meetings, "display a preference for Christianity over other religions by the government."
The American Civil Liberties Union had initially filed the suit two years ago on behalf of the group members, Janet Joyner and Constance Lynn Blackmon.
Johnson, however, said he wasn't concerned about Sharpe's findings.
"I plan to keep doing it," Johnson said. "It's as simple as that. Even if the prayer police come, they are are going to hear a prayer to Jesus or about Jesus."
Johnson said his feelings on the matter are clear-cut.
"You can say prayers to whoever you want to," Johnson said. "But the Lord ain't listening unless you mention Jesus."
Johnson also says the law, at least the letter of it, is on his side.
"If anyone can find the phrase 'separation of church and state' in the U.S. Constitution, I'll make a $1,000 donation to the Democratic National Convention or the ACLU or anybody else," said Johnson, a conservative Republican. "But my money is safe, because it's not in there."
Statesville City Attorney Eddie Gaines said he recalled a similar matter coming up several years ago regarding prayers said at the start of city council meetings.
"I remember I investigated it enough to be satisfied that we were not violating the First Amendment," Gaines said.
He said most invocations said now at the start of meetings do not contain sectarian language.
"I would have to look at it more closely, but I don't think the city's prayers typically mention Jesus," Gaines said. "I think that magistrate would have made the same conclusion about Statesville that he made about Forsyth County."
Sharpe's findings essentially add up to a recommendation he will make to a federal judge, who will make an official ruling on the matter at a later date.
As for Johnson, he said folks attending tonight's commissioners meeting will hear another prayer to Jesus.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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