Longwood ends invocation at city meetings

LONGWOOD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Longwood City Commissioners are ending the practice of hosting a public prayer before city meetings.

On Monday, commissioners voted 5-0 to replace the invocation portion of meetings with a moment of silence.

Several of the commissioners said the move would be more inclusive of all religious viewpoints. Commissioner Brian Sackett, who proposed the change, said the silent meditation would give everyone a chance to pray or reflect however they choose to do so.

Longwood Mayor Ben Paris also added that doing away with the practice would make things easier for city staff who normally seek out and line up individuals or groups to lead the invocation.

Commissioners also added that Longwood has only had invocation on the city commission agenda for about the last four years. Prior to that it was, as it will now be, a moment of silence.

Longwood isn’t the only community toiling with the topic of prayer in government settings. In December Brevard County leaders voted to appeal a decision by a judge ordering them to change their invocation policy to be more inclusive.

For now, the Brevard Commission uses a moment of silence instead.