Prayer rallies to be held tonight before the Lodi council meeting
August 5, 2009
Staff — Lodi News-Sentinel
Tonight, two rallies about prayers before the Lodi City Council meetings will take place near Carnegie Forum, where the council meets.
Lodi United will advocate for the elimination of prayers before council meetings. On the other side, The Pray In Jesus Name Project will be asking the council to allow religious leaders to pray in Jesus’ name during the council prayers.
The council will not be discussing its invocation policy during the meeting, but both groups hope to speak briefly during the public comment time.
Gordon James Klingenschmitt, the founder of The Pray in Jesus Name Project has applied for an encroachment permit for the Lodi Area All Veterans Plaza, city spokesman Jeff Hood said. The group requested the ability to plug in a microphone, speakers and a podium.
Even though the group has requested the permit, it allows them to put the sound system in the public right-of-way, but does not mean the organization has rented All Veterans Plaza, Hood said.
The other group, Lodi United, or members of the public will also be allowed to use any part of the plaza.
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