Coeur d'Alene seeking a few good prayers

The city of Coeur d'Alene is looking for people to pray before its City Council meetings this year.

"The city appreciates the history of the invocation and fully supports opening up the opportunity to all faiths," said Mayor Wood McEvers. "However, we need additional volunteers to demonstrate their passion for this service."

In August 2022, the City Council opted to allow nonprofit faith-based organizations located within the city limits to participate in giving an invocation at a City Council meeting. 

That was a change from the longtime practice that saw the local ministerial association, a Christian organization, handling the invocation schedule. The idea was to give other faiths an opportunity to pray before the City Council meetings.

This year’s registration only provided enough volunteers for half the year of council meeting dates, according to a press release. 

Registration will be open for council meetings being held from May 20 through Dec. 16. Registrations will be accepted through May 9 at www.cdaid.org/invocation. Those interested must register through this site, with assignment of dates through a lottery, the release said.