Council has not banned prayers (From Western Telegraph)

Council has not banned prayers

DEAR EDITOR - In recent weeks there has been a report and various letters to the editor regarding the absence of prayers before the start of a meeting of the Pembroke Dock Town Council.

I have been asked by the Town Council to write to you to ensure that your readers fully understand what has taken place. The Town Council Standing Orders were revised on December 1st, 2005. The relevant section of a new standing orders reads as follows: "Prior to a full meeting or annual meeting members wishing to do so may meet in the Council Chamber for religious observance. "One of their number or a member of the town council staff or Mayor's chaplain may lead any prayer/intercession/religious observance." You will therefore note that prayers have not been excluded. What has happened is that prayers no longer form part of the agenda and it therefore allows any town councillor or member of the public with no faith to absent themselves from prayers or other religious observance which may take place prior to a meeting. I hope that this explanation enables your readers to look at matters in the correct light.

00IAN JONES Town Clerk Pembroke Dock Town Council Council Offices Pater Hall Pembroke Dock