United In Prayer, Divided In Opinion

The debate over separation of church and state has been sparked once again in the United States. May 6th is just around the corner, and with it brings the 58th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer, and much controversy. The controversy is due to a law that was enacted in 1952 that formalized its observance. The statute establishing the National Day of Prayer law was challenged in court earlier this year and ruled unconstitutional. Due to the personal nature of prayer, and the powerful effect it can have on a community, the judge ruled that the U.S. government may not use it’s authority to influence an individual’s decision on whether and when to pray. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice to appeal the ruling on April 22, 2010. As of now, the fate of the National Day of Prayer is unknown.

Religion and politics is a very touchy subject, so much so that there has even been a divide amongst U.S. leaders in celebrating the National Day of Prayer. Presidents Reagan and Bush hosted special events for the day in the past. Presidents Clinton and Obama have shied away from it. If our leaders can’t agree on whether or not events such as the National Day of Prayer are a good idea, how can the rest of the population?

Amidst all drama surrounding the National Day of Prayer, it can be difficult to know exactly where you stand. However, Janet Haag, Executive Director of Fellowship in Prayer, may have a solution. Haag’s recent article in the Huffington Post titled “Let Us Pray – With or Without a National Day of Prayer” suggests that the real issue over the National Day of Prayer isn’t about the legality of the day itself, but whether or not we can put aside our differences and come together as a nation to pray.

Haag sees another problem with the current state of the National Day of Prayer. “For a day of prayer to be authentically deemed national, it should reflect the pluralism that now defines us,” says Haag.

Haag has experiences first hand the segregation and religious separation caused by the event. She recalls a phone conversation she had last spring with a local organizing committee for the National Day of Prayer. The organizers told Haag that the retreat being planned was for Christians only. When she asked how she could help engage those of different faiths in the event, she was told that non-Christian groups were welcome to pray on the capitol steps, with one condition. It would have to happen separately and prior to the organizing committees event.

It would have been easy for Haag to counter in anger. However, Haag sees the controversy surrounding the National Day of Prayer as opportunity to “prompt a national conversation challenging us to move beyond tolerance to respect for all religions and no religion. I believe our Constitution was formed on principles of freedom and respect for all.”

A similar conversation inspired Haag to create the Fellowship in Prayer 60 years ago. A true pioneer in the interfaith movement, Fellowship in Prayer was created as a “grassroots movement, a spiritual renaissance in which people of all religions and wisdom traditions would come together to pray, thereby effecting peace.” Since its inception, Fellowship in Prayer has been upholding these values and “calling people to interfaith spiritual practice”.

Haag believes that organizations such as hers are great models for how matters of faith should be handled in religiously diverse nations such as the United States. She adds that people of faith and no-faith alike do not need the government’s endorsement to come together and pray. What people really need is “generosity of spirit so that we can be all-inclusive.”

Whether or not the National Day of Prayer is declared constitutional or not, the Fellowship in Prayer already knows how it will be celebrating May 6th. “Fellowship in Prayer will pray for our country and our leaders that we may be a nation that embraces everyone's right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Consider joining us by reaching out to pray with people of religions or wisdom traditions other than your own, so that those of us who believe in the power of prayer will be praying as the nation for our nation. We can pray in words or in silence, we can hold the nation in our thoughts, and we can commit ourselves to living from a place of greater compassion. As a number of wise people have observed, "Prayer doesn't change God; prayer changes us." We are in need of such transformation -- to become reconcilers, peacemakers, and justice-bearers. I think these values are shared by theists, non-theists, atheists -- all who hope for a better world.”

Another way the Fellowship in Prayer is touching on the subject and uniting different faith communities for interfaith collaboration and peace is at their 60th Anniversary conference titled “Prayer: An Answer For The 21st Century”. Click on the link for more information on the conference and how you can get involved.

Website: www.huffingtonpost.com