Implemented August, 2021
In observance of the longstanding American tradition for solemnizing legislative assemblies, the Board will allow citizens, who are leaders of an organized group or congregation that regularly meets in Douglas County, an opportunity to open its business meetings with a prayer or other invocation to a higher authority to inspire the Commissioners in their deliberations and decisions while in service to the people of the County.
Procedures:
The Chair of the Board of County Commissioners will ensure that a few minutes is set aside before the call to order at all business meetings to allow for the offer of prayer or other invocation. If no member of the public is available to give the invocation, then a moment of silence may be held instead. Everyone attending the meeting is welcome to participate if they wish, but no one will be asked to take or abstain from any action (standing, bowing of heads, repeating the words aloud, leaving the room, etc.) that may indicate either support or opposition to the invocation.
The County Manager will oversee a program of inviting and scheduling any faith or belief system within the County community to have an opportunity to participate in offering the invocations on a rotating basis. Such invitations will be open to any resident that is a leader of an organized group or congregation that regularly meets in Douglas County.
The invocation content is not required to be nonsectarian and the County will not review or approve the content of any invocation prior to its use, but speakers must keep their invocation comments within the following general guidelines:
- - Do not ask participants to take or abstain from any action (standing, bowing of heads, repeating the words aloud, etc.)
- -No longer than two minutes
- -Positive, uplifting, and respectful of the diverse makeup of the County and audience
- -Do not address any particular item on the Board’s agenda
- -Do not make negative comments about anyone or any belief
- -Do not solicit contributions, advertise, or proselytize for any particular church or organization
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in a speaker not being invited back.
