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By Dorothy Brotherton
PASTOR Ed Skutshek of Grace Lutheran Church in West Kelowna didn’t know he would get into hot water when he was asked to lead the opening prayer
of the B.C. Legislature August 25.
It started innocuously enough. Speaker of the House Bill Barisoff, who is the
MLA from Penticton, is responsible for getting someone to lead the prayer. He
had asked MLA Ben Stewart from the Westside-Kelowna riding to recommend
someone, because his constituency was particularly hard hit by recent fires.
Stewart suggested Skutshek, who considered it an honour.
The pastor composed his prayer, travelled to Victoria, and led the legislative
body in communicating to the Almighty. He closed his prayer as he traditionally
does: “In Jesus’ name, amen.”
That’s when sparks flew. A recording of the prayer was played on CBC Radio One’s Early Edition, and people were asked for feedback as to whether those closing words were
appropriate.
Samples of responses were aired over the next few days. They ranged from people
who were offended that the legislature “perpetuates myth,” to those who considered it a tradition worth keeping.
One person said there are people who blow themselves up in God’s name, and we have to be careful. Another said she did not understand why we
have to thank God for things that we accomplish as people.
Another commented the prayer was the most beautiful speech from the throne ever
heard.
Still others questioned: “Isn’t there separation of church and state in Canada?”
Early Edition brought in John Redekop, an adjunct professor from Trinity Western University
(and a frequent commentator in BCCN). He explained there actually is no separation of church and state in Canada;
he noted that many provinces officially fund religious schools. The separation
of church and government, he said, is a concept which comes from the United
States Constitution, adding, “The U.S. Constitution does not apply in Canada.”
However, Skutshek noted, the actual phrase in the U.S. Constitution is: “Congress shall establish no religion.” Nowhere does it prohibit prayer in public, even in the United States, he added.
Redekop, having defended Skutshek’s prayer and the concept of public prayer in general, went on to say it was “unwise” to have used the phrase, “in Jesus’ name,” and opined that the pastor probably could have been more generic.
Early Edition called in Skutshek for his response, and the host asserted: “Redekop said you crossed the line.” Skutshek pointed out that those were not Redekop’s words, but the host’s – and that Redekop had used the word “unwise.”
Skutshek has had time to think through the controversy. He said that, if he had
it to do over, he would use Jesus’ name again.
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“In the B.C. Legislature, there are a multitude of political parties that have
conflicting and mutually exclusive worldviews. They debate. They speak in terms
of who they are. That’s the sound of a healthy democracy. But when it comes to prayer, people say you
can’t – or they muzzle you. Is that the sound of a healthy democracy? I think not.”
Skutshek added pointedly, “I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I would not be true to myself or be true
to Jesus, if I did not speak in his name.”
He noted also that it is the Queen’s representative who opens the legislature – and among her titles is Defender of the Faith. “We all know what faith she defends. I prayed in the same name that she would
pray in. I crossed no line.”
He added that people need to be held accountable for their views, whether
Christian or not, and that he would expect a Muslim to pray in Allah’s name.
With his characteristic good nature, Skutshek concluded: “At least we can debate about it, and no one ends up in jail in this country.”
In his prayer, Skutshek asked God to bless this land and heritage, and asked for
good government. He prayed for MLAs and leaders of both the government and the
opposition.
“In response to the Kelly Creek, West Kelowna, Terrace Mountain and other fires
around our province, you have given us men and women who risk their lives to
defend life and property in the face of raging flames,” he said, and prayed for their safety. Robert Woodhead, a helicopter pilot who
died in fire fighting, was commended to God.
He concluded: “In times of prosperity, make our hearts be thankful; in troubled times, do not
let our trust in you fail; and all times, give us the grace to be generous to
the less fortunate. Make all of us, who come from different backgrounds,
nations and who speak many languages, a united people. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
October 2009
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