Raisin board agrees, unanimously, to mix invocation presenters

Diversifying the prayer given at the beginning of Raisin Township regular board meetings was brought up by Township Supervisor Jay Cavanaugh as an agenda item and the board unanimously approved giving different religious representatives and leaders the opportunity to perform the invocation. Cavanaugh said that when the policies and procedures for township meetings were discussed, Supt. Jim Palmer was tasked with seeking out different religious representatives. The supervisor added that he wanted “to demonstrate that we [the township] are not a singular religious organization,” and thought the township could seek Catholic priests, rabbis, atheists, pantheists, neo-pagans and even representatives from the Leh Nah Weh Native American Organization that resides in the county to perform prayer.At the regular Raisin Township Board meeting on May 12, trustee Larry Crittenden asked that trustee and NewSong Community Church Pastor Tom Hawkins lead a prayer at the June meeting in response to the May 5 United States Supreme Court ruling upholding the right of municipalities to open town meetings in prayer. At a May 20 special meeting, the board instructed Palmer to check with residents in the township and local ministries to see if there was interest in doing prayer. Since June, regular board meetings have opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and a prayer. Cavanaugh said he’s worried about falling into a “rut” by having the same people presenting the invocation. He said he can recognize a Catholic priest, rabbis, and “medicine man,” but suggested he may not recognize those representing other religions or beliefs.“That’s going to be a little difficult when you look at the number of churches in Raisin Township,” Crittenden said. “There are not that many. We can ask each of the pastors of those churches to come and lead us in the prayer at the beginning. We do not have a Catholic church in the area.” Crittenden continued, “The closest temple I know of is somewhere in the Detroit suburbs because that’s where the Jewish folks of Lenawee County used to go.“I have nothing against inviting those people, but at the same time when you look at travel distance I think were going to get ‘no, thank you, but no thanks.’”“I think that’s a valid point,” Cavanaugh responded. “I’m more concerned about the residents who are Catholic, [residents] who are Jews, you know, so perhaps maybe a rabbi from Ann Arbor would be willing to come down here and represent that — Tom [Hawkins], go ahead.”Hawkins said that it didn’t necessarily have to be a religious leader, but could also be a township resident. He said he would work with Palmer to reach out to those community members representing different religious sects.“It should be representative of Raisin Township,” Hawkins added.Trustee Debra Brousseau asked if there should be some guidelines given to residents so invocations don’t stray into personal issues or politics. “Based on the pastors who have come, I think they have stayed well within bounds,” Cavanaugh said. “I think that between Mr. [Supt. Jim] Palmer and Tom [Hawkins], who clearly has experience in this, they can guide them.” Brousseau then opined that she wondered how they would keep track of how diversified the township’s invocations are. “I don’t know who the last three were or who they represented or what religions they represented,” Brousseau added.“If they mention Jesus, they probably aren’t Jews,” Cavanaugh said. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”The comment drew ire from some in attendance.

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