Invocations Before Government Meetings: Best Practices for Arizona
AZ lawmakers often start government meetings with a prayer. Whether inadvertently or intentionally, this may marginalize religious minorities… and even violate constitutional law. While it’s true some lawmakers use prayer to advance a religious agenda, many others simply lack a comprehensive understanding of how to appropriately begin a government meeting. Our guide breaks down the thorny legalities of legislative prayer and the best practices surrounding it. Read it to educate yourself, or better yet, forward it to your own City Council Members and County Supervisors!
Read: When Is It Okay to Start a School Board Meeting With a Prayer?
An article by Secular AZ’s legal team
Secular Invocation Ideas
A collection of invocations that do not invoke a deity; for use before government/public meetings.
Secular Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous: Information for Judges, Probation Officers, Drug Courts, and Government Agencies
Courts have held that AA is religious in nature, and that government coercion to participate in it, condition a benefit on participation, or impose punishment for failure to attend amounts to state sponsorship of religion and violates the Establishment Clause. Fortunately, several secular options are available.
Directory of All Arizona Statutes Related to Religion (2023)
Every AZ statute that relates to a facet of religion.