The conversation centers around a recent resolution by the La Crosse city council to eliminate the invocation prayer at council meetings. The discussion highlights community reactions, the importance of prayer in governance, and the broader implications of such a decision on community values and traditions. The speakers emphasize the need for civic engagement and encourage listeners to voice their opinions to the council.

Email the council NOW: zzcouncilmembers@cityoflacrosse.org

Here are the details:

The La Crosse City Council’s Judiciary & Administration Committee has voted to end the longstanding practice of opening council meetings with a brief invocation, a tradition that has been in place for decades. The committee’s decision has drawn strong reaction from members of the public who view the move as out of step with community values.

During public comment, all but 2 of the speakers who addressed the committee spoke in opposition to the resolution. Their testimony emphasized the importance of prayer as a unifying and reflective moment before the start of government business. Audio from the meeting reflects a consistent theme: many residents believe the invocation is not about endorsing a particular faith, but about grounding civic decision-making in humility and shared moral reflection.

Several speakers cited polling data suggesting that a significant majority of residents—often estimated at roughly 80 to 85 percent—believe in prayer and oppose removing it from public meetings. From that perspective, critics argue the committee’s vote disregards the preferences of most constituents in favor of the objections of a relatively small minority.

Supporters of the invocation argue that prayer serves a practical civic purpose. By encouraging council members to pause, reflect, and consider perspectives beyond their own experiences, they believe it promotes openness, empathy, and restraint in governance. Eliminating that moment, they warn, risks increasing division and reducing opportunities for shared understanding.

As the issue moves forward, opponents of the change are calling for voters to hold elected officials accountable at the ballot box, emphasizing that long-standing traditions should not be discarded without broad public support.