The change will allow specific gods to be named in premeeting prayers.

Tulsa's City Council voted Thursday to change an unwritten policy so that people can name a deity when praying before the council's regular weekly meetings.

pu,UFslams In other business, the council asked the city attorney to draft the legal framework for a capital needs endowment for the new BOK Center.

The council's previous prayer policy, which prohibited the use of the name of Jesus, Allah or other religious figures, had prompted complaints.

Councilor Rick Westcott, who sponsored the change along with Councilors Bill Christiansen, John Eagleton and Cason Carter, said it was warranted because of Tulsa's rich history of a variety of faiths.

"I think it's important for this council to open this meeting with prayers that allow people to express the fullness of their faiths," Westcott said.

The change passed by a vote of 7-2, with Councilors Dennis Troyer and Jack Henderson opposing it.

Both argued that the policy should not be changed.

"We might be opening Pandora's box if we go in this direction," Henderson said.

"There's going to be a lot of people who will come in here and pray in the name of whoever, and it's going to offend some people."

The change will allow the prayer leader, who is different at each meeting, to use the specific name of his or her god within the prayer, so long as it is not used to proselytize of disparage any other belief.

Prayer leaders must be from a recognized congregation within the city.

If no prayer leader is available, the council will observe a moment of silence.

Councilor John Eagleton said Tulsa needs all the prayer it can get.

"I firmly believe that sanitized prayers to a generic deity don't really serve a spiritual purpose, at least not for me." he said.

"The public square should be opened to persons of all faith to express their prayer as they have been taught and they believe should be done."

Councilor Bill Martinson said he wants to ensure that the invocations are varied in faiths so that one denomination does not dominate the prayer week after week.

"If that's not done, this issue will be brought back," he said.

The council's vote came after several people spoke against the policy change.

Attorney Keith McArtor spoke in favor of having no prayers at council meetings.

"Your job is very difficult as it is. The last thing you want to do is communicate in some way, shape or form that you are only governing for some people and not for others," he said. "Sectarian prayers, unfortunately, give that sense."

Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry Executive Director James Mishler also spoke against the change, questioning who would decide what is a "recognized congregation."

"I think the very people who have been encouraging you to make this change are going to be very uncomfortable when the priest from the Hindu temple is standing here chanting in the name of Krishna or when someone from the Wiccan community offers prayers to the earth mother," he said.

The BOK Center's endowment was passed by a vote of 6-3, with Councilors Martinson, Troyer and Roscoe Turner opposing it.

Eagleton said a vote must take place to fund the endowment, which will pay for future renovations and upgrades of the arena, now under construction downtown.

His idea is to take 1 percent of the venue's gross receipts -- about $50,000 a year based on $5 million in projected receipts -- and sock it away to cover big-ticket expenses.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com