CREEDE HINSHAW: Who’s praying to whom on National Prayer Day?

The National Day of Prayer, held yesterday, became an annual event 65 years ago when Congress unanimously passed a resolution signed into law by President Harry Truman. Here is the wording the law in its entirety: “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

Some 40,000 events are usually held across the United States on this day. I suspect most communities within the readership of The Albany Herald held an event, including one yesterday at the Albany-Dougherty Government Center.

Here are a few reflections on the observance:

1. The law – written in 1952 in a more Protestant age – fails to mention synagogues, mosques or other sacred spaces where believers might gather for prayer. If the law were ever amended, I suspect the new wording would be more inclusive. Then again, with the severe polarization in Congress, I wonder if even an inclusive law could be crafted today.

2. A lawsuit was filed against this law a few years ago, claiming that the law establishes government sanctioned religion. Though the suit was dismissed, I suspect others will follow.

3. Let’s assume, for the purpose of this article, that the law were overturned. Even if this happened – and I am not advocating it! – the only thing that nullified would be the presidential proclamation and the legal designation of a day. There is nothing illegal about any group encouraging Americans to pray in a concerted way on a national day set aside by that group.

4. The National Day of Prayer Task Force appears to be the primary planner and coordinator of this day. This group, sponsored by the Christian group Focus on the Family, has no connection whatsoever to the national law. Keep in mind the law is very limited: it sets a specific day and requires the president to write a proclamation. Period. Any theme, material, plans, cost, etc., is borne by whatever group publicizes the day in whatever way they so choose with whatever emphases they want to tout.

5. The Focus on the Family Task Force is an unapologetically Christian group. The prayers are prayed in the name of Jesus and the national prayer written by Tony Evans calls on God to help make people better “visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ.”

This is a completely appropriate prayer for a Christian group who wants our nation to be more Christlike.

6. Other National Day of Prayer observances are interfaith events in which people of all faiths gather to pray while respecting the religious heritage of each group. Such events highlight the mutual respect and diversity in America’s faith community.

7. I suspect the majority of events held in Georgia were described in paragraph 5. Without sounding dire, we may have reached a point in our history when prayers for our nation – from people of all faiths – would be a very good exercise … and not just on the first Thursday in May.

Email columnist Creede Hinshaw at [email protected].