Letter to the editor: In response to Board of Education's pre-meeting prayer

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.28.26

On May 5, I attended a Brunswick County Board of Education meeting in Bolivia. The meeting was called to order at the appointed time and began with a moment of silence which is common at many meetings. When the chair announced the moment of silence the five-person committee got up, put their arms around each other, and huddled in prayer. If you listen to the video of the meeting on YouTube you can hear very softly that someone is saying a prayer.

What was that about?

These are elected officials who are aware of the separation of church and state. North Carolina constitution allows for school committees to have a moment of silence, however, it is inappropriate for them to huddle together in front of an audience.

Section 6 of the state constitution notes the separation of powers: the legislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of the state government shall be forever separate and distinct from each other.

If the board of education chooses to pray before a meeting they are welcome to do so before the meeting behind closed doors and not subject an audience to their religious demonstrations.

Interestingly, one of the topics on the agenda was Policy 3515 Religion in the Schools (Freedom of Religion). A freedom of religion policy should be adhered to in schools and at public meetings; it should be a neutral space for all.

Jamie Stein-Muzio

Calabash