CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: County Votes to End Mandatory Prayer in Public Meetings | Church & State Debate [#DonaAnaCounty]
Doña Ana County just voted to remove the requirement for prayers before public meetings. Is this a step toward religious freedom—or government overreach?
Hi everyone,
Should government meetings start with prayer? This New Mexico county says No.
In a major shift, the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners has voted 4-1 to repeal a 2018 resolution that required prayers to open public meetings.
The original 2018 resolution mandated that all county commission meetings start with an invocation.
This decision marks a shift in how the county handles religious activities in official proceedings. It raises concerns about the balance between tradition and government neutrality on religion.
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Supporters of the repeal likely aimed to reinforce a secular approach to public meetings. Critics may view the move as an erosion of community values or religious expression.
The county procedural manuals, meeting agendas, and clerk templates will all need to be updated to reflect the change.
Regardless, commissioners can still choose to open with a moment of reflection or other practices—but not as a requirement.
QUESTION: Do you think prayer should be allowed in public meetings? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners voted 4–1 today to remove a long-standing 2018 resolution that required opening their public meetings with a prayer.
What happened?
At their Tuesday session, after a brief interruption from a fire alarm, the board approved the repeal by a 4–1 margin.
The original 2018 resolution mandated that all county commission meetings begin with an invocation.
Why this matters:
The decision marks a shift in how the county addresses religious exercises in official proceedings. It raises questions about the balance between tradition and government neutrality regarding religion.
Supporters of the repeal likely aimed to reinforce a secular approach to public meetings. Critics may view the move as an erosion of community values or religious expression.
What’s next:
County procedure manuals, meeting agendas, and clerk templates will need to be updated to reflect the change.
Regardless, commissioners can still choose to open with a moment of reflection or other practices—just not as a requirement.
COUNTY VOTES TO END MANDATORY PRAYER IN PUBLIC MEETINGS | Church & State Debate | Desperate Search Ongoing | Christian Breaking News!
COUNTY VOTES TO END MANDATORY PRAYER IN PUBLIC MEETINGS | Church & State Debate | Desperate Search Ongoing | Christian Breaking News!