© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Atheist Delivers Invocation At Alabama City Council Meeting

Huntsville City Hall. (Wikimedia Commons)
Huntsville City Hall. (Wikimedia Commons)

When an atheist gave the invocation at a Huntsville, Alabama, city council meeting last month, some people bowed their heads as they had done during opening prayers in the traditionally Christian community.

According to the media group “Alabama,” it was the first “non-theist invocation to open a public meeting” in Alabama.

The message began “Dearly Beloved,” and went on to praise the “wisdom, courage, justice,” of the American people.

Jeannie Robison, the executive director of the Interfaith Mission Service, is responsible for identifying people to deliver the message.

She joins Here & Now’s Robin Young to discuss how the message was received.

Guest

  • Jeannie Robison, executive director of the Interfaith Mission Service and an ordained deacon of the Episcopal church.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.