The Edmond Sun

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February 13, 2009

2 Edmond lawmakers vote against gay pastor’s prayer

James Coburn

EDMOND — Several members of the Oklahoma Legislature Wednesday objected to the invocation provided by their Chaplain of the Day.

The Rev. Scott Jones, pastor of the Cathedral of Hope in Oklahoma City, was invited to say a prayer before the state House of Representatives. But some House members didn’t appear reverent after Jones, who is gay, introduced his “loving partner and fiancé, Michael.”

Twenty House members, including Reps. Lewis Moore, R-Edmond, and Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, voted against Jones’ remarks being entered into the House record. Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Edmond, was one of 17 House members who excused themselves from the vote.

“For him to show up and not just pray; that would be one thing,” Murphey told The Edmond Sun. “But to introduce his fiancé and then have his fiancé be a guy — and then pray — that was an attack on the beliefs of a lot of Oklahomans and it was entirely inappropriate.”

Murphey said the family concept of a man and a wife is a major principal of Christianity. “That’s how the thing works,” he said.

Moore said Jones’ opening remarks prior to the invocation had clouded anything else the reverend had to say.

“I just didn’t feel like that was the appropriate place to introduce a social or political agenda,” Moore said.

Republicans Ken Miller and Marian Cooksey, both representing Edmond, were among the 64 House member majority to approve the reverend’s invocation in the legislative record.

“For those that did it, I understand,” Cooksey said of those voting no. “But it wasn’t something I wanted to do.”

When Murphey was asked if he was offended that an openly gay Christian served as Chaplain of the Day at the state House, Murphey said he needed to think about the answer to a good question.

“Before he prayed, he wanted to introduce somebody important to him,” Murphey continued. “Got everybody thinking it’s his future wife, and it was in your face.

“It wasn’t something discreet or whatever, but was aggressively promoted as Chaplain of the Day.”

Jones told The Edmond Sun that he is disappointed that a prayer has been politicized by a group of House members.

A Chaplain of the Day is routine for House members. And Jones said he felt honored and welcomed when Rep. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, invited him to give the invocation.

Jones said he was told by House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, that it is customary for House chaplains to introduce their guests accompanying them.

“I asked Speaker Benge if I could introduce my family and congregation in the gallery, and then he gave me permission,” Jones said. “I turned around gave introduction and gave the prayer. Everyone was respectful and nothing out of the ordinary occurred.”

After taking a break, Jones returned to the room a few hours later near the close of the session. McAffrey made a routine motion to have Jones’ remarks entered in official House record. An objection was raised by Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, prompting a vote to be taken on including the prayer.

Jones said lawmakers rushed over to read his prayer again to see what would be objectionable. People seemed confused about what was happening, he said.

“For me, I was just shocked and surprised that legislators were voting on whether or not to approve a prayer,” Jones said. “I think that sets a dangerous precedence for the future.”

Jones commended Benge and Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, for their hospitality “and handling the situation with grace and dignity.” Republicans and Democrats voted in the affirmative for the prayer to be in the House record.

“They are elected to listen to and represent all the people, not just those who believe the way they believe religiously,” said Diane Hunter, an Edmond Democrat, who ran against Moore for the District 96 seat in November. “For someone who wants to interpret their religious beliefs their way — that’s fine— but it has no place at the state Capitol.”

McDaniel said the Legislature has more important business to address this session.

“I think we have higher priorities that we should focus on that will move Oklahoma forward,” he said.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114

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