Guiding Principles for Inclusive Public Prayer 06-30-15 · GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC...
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC PRAYER Leading others in a group or community prayer places a special responsibility on those who accept such a task. When functioning in a setting in which it may be reasonably assumed that there is a diversity of identities, one’s actions are significantly different from private behavior. It goes without saying that behavior that may be appropriate in private settings is often unacceptable in public, with the reverse being equally true. This principle is particularly important when a person is asked to take part in or lead others in public religious presentations. Leading prayer in a public setting is both an opportunity and an honored task. We live in a society made up of many cultures, views, religions, and beliefs. It is a defining part of the greatness of our nation that we have adopted the motto “E Pluribus Unum” meaning “Out of Many, One!” When we take this pluralistic value to heart, we realize our responsibility to be respectful of and caring for the feelings of our fellow citizens as we engage in any public behavior, while always being true to ourselves.
Transcript of Guiding Principles for Inclusive Public Prayer 06-30-15 · GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC...
GU
IDIN
G P
RIN
CIP
LE
S F
OR
IN
CL
US
IVE
PU
BL
IC P
RA
YE
R
Lead
ing
oth
ers
in a
gro
up
or
com
mu
nit
y p
raye
r p
lace
s a
spe
cial
resp
on
sib
ilit
y o
n t
ho
se w
ho
acc
ep
t su
ch a
tas
k.
Wh
en
fu
nct
ion
ing
in a
se
ttin
g in
wh
ich
it m
ay b
e r
eas
on
ably
ass
um
ed
that
th
ere
is a
div
ers
ity
of
ide
nti
tie
s, o
ne’
s ac
tio
ns
are
sig
nif
ican
tly
dif
fere
nt
fro
m p
riva
te b
eh
avio
r. I
t go
es
wit
ho
ut
sayi
ng
that
be
hav
ior
that
may
be
ap
pro
pri
ate
in p
riva
te s
ett
ings
is o
fte
n u
nac
cep
tab
le in
pu
bli
c,
wit
h t
he
rev
ers
e b
ein
g e
qu
ally
tru
e.
Th
is p
rin
cip
le is
par
ticu
larl
y
imp
ort
ant
wh
en
a p
ers
on
is a
ske
d t
o t
ake
par
t in
or
lead
oth
ers
in p
ub
lic
reli
gio
us
pre
sen
tati
on
s.
Lead
ing
pra
yer
in a
pu
bli
c se
ttin
g is
bo
th a
n o
pp
ort
un
ity
and
an
ho
no
red
task
. W
e l
ive
in a
so
cie
ty m
ade
up
of
man
y cu
ltu
res,
vie
ws,
re
ligi
on
s, a
nd
be
lie
fs.
It is
a d
efi
nin
g p
art
of
the
gre
atn
ess
of
ou
r n
atio
n t
hat
we
hav
e
ado
pte
d t
he
mo
tto
“E
Plu
rib
us
Un
um
” m
ean
ing
“Ou
t o
f M
any,
On
e!”
Wh
en
we
tak
e t
his
plu
rali
stic
val
ue
to
he
art,
we
re
aliz
e o
ur
resp
on
sib
ilit
y
to b
e r
esp
ect
ful
of
and
car
ing
for
the
fe
eli
ngs
of
ou
r fe
llo
w c
itiz
en
s as
we
en
gage
in a
ny
pu
bli
c b
eh
avio
r, w
hil
e a
lway
s b
ein
g tr
ue
to
ou
rse
lve
s.
