What a contrast between procedures in the European Union offices and those in some of those in the United States government even at local level. In her first public meeting as an El Paso County Commissioner, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peggy Littleton called for more prayer, saying, “I’d like to encourage my colleagues to have, at a minimum, prayer together every Tuesday and expand it to leaders, elected officials and citizens who would like to express their blessing over the board.”

Littleton reportedly quoted Benjamin Franklin’s 1787 plea to the delegates of a deadlocked Constitutional Convention: “…the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

“I’d like to have us abide by that principle,” said Littleton, “and start out truly with God first, country second and service as our third most important item we do.”

In a report in The Gazette, “because Littleton’s appeal was not a policy item, informal agreement by at least three commissioners propelled it into motion, and because the commission chair has authority over agendas, it’s a done deal.”

New commission chairwoman Amy Lathen agreed. “I account to God first. I can’t do this by myself; it’s a big job we’ve got,” she said.

Added Commissioner Darryl Glenn: “City Council opens all of its formal meetings with prayer. This is really the people’s government, and it shows how open and diverse we are because we rotate it around. People try to paint us as an intolerant community, and I don’t think we are. This is a perfect example.” In recent years, the county commission has had a prayer invocation at one meeting a month.

The commission started once-a-week invocations in January 2006, when Commissioner Sallie Clark became board chair. “I felt it was important to take a moment to think about the decisions we were making and invite different clergy to ask for guidance from a higher being,” Clark said on Wednesday.

Over the years, the practice decreased to twice a month, then once a month as it became more difficult to book religious leaders. The commission has had clergy from various faiths represented said Commissioner Dennis Hisey, who stepped down on Tuesday as commission chair. To alleviate the scheduling burden, commissioners, county staff and other community leaders will lead prayers, if clergy isn’t available, Lathen said, adding that praying before meetings helps her get centred.

Littleton’s comments on Tuesday followed an invocation by the Rev. Paul Aragon, who prayed for “a sense of common ground” and that the new board “would have the courage to ask what is best for El Paso County.”

Perhaps the above could also be emulated by local governments in our islands in the search for reaching decisions aimed at the common good?

G. Bonett

Marsalforn