HENRICO, Va. (AP) — Pastors will no longer deliver an opening prayer at the Henrico County Board of Supervisors’ meetings.
Media outlets report that the board decided Tuesday to drop the prayer after it received complaints. The decision followed a closed door meeting to receive legal advice.
County Attorney Joseph Rapisarda says board members decided the easiest way to resolve the issue was to drop the prayer.
Someone sent an email criticizing the prayer following a June 12 meeting where the board considered an appeal of an approved plan for a mosque. A pastor who delivered the prayer closed it by saying, “in Christ’s name I pray.”
County officials wouldn’t identify the author of the email.
The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation also criticized the prayer and asked the board to drop it.
