Atheist Invocation at Oskaloosa City Council Ignites Conversation
Justin Scott gave the invocation at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting on Thursday, some stood and bowed their heads, as is traditionally done during invocation. Others instead chose to sit, observe, and later speak out against the decision to allow him to give the invocation.
By Hailey Brown
(OSKALOOSA, Iowa) – When Justin Scott gave the invocation at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting on Thursday, some stood and bowed their heads, as is traditionally done during invocation. Others instead chose to sit, observe, and later speak out against the decision to allow him to give the invocation.
The reason for the debate: Scott serves as director of Eastern Iowa Atheists, a group of about 500 activist members. According to the group’s Facebook page, the Eastern Iowa Atheists is an “effort to connect atheists, promote positive atheism, defend church-state separation and raise awareness of secular values.”
The Webster definition of an atheist is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods, or one who subscribes to or advocates atheism.” According to Scott, it was the first-ever non-theist invocation to open an Oskaloosa City Council meeting. Council members Steve Burnett (Ward 4), and Scottie Moore (At-Large) stood as well as Mayor David Krutzfeldt, while council members Aaron Ver Steeg (Ward 1), Tom Jimenez (Ward 2), Doug Yates (Ward 3), Joe Caligiuri (At-Large), and Tom Walling (At-Large) remained seated for the invocation.
“It is an honor to be delivering the first-ever inclusive invocation at an Oskaloosa City Council meeting, honoring both the constitution of Iowa and the United States,” Scott began, encouraging those present to harness empathy, freedom, and critical thinking.
“First, [harness] the power to empathize with those that are different from you, that have taken a different path than you, that experienced and continue to experience different struggles than yours. The human power to embrace diversity in your community, seeing it not as a threat but as an opportunity to learn and grow as neighbors. The human power to strive for inclusion in your city government. It is here to work for all citizens, but only if you demand more from it. The human power to demand justice from your own city, as we are all, in one way or another, all minorities.”
Scott continued next about protecting citizens’ freedoms and rights.
“When it comes to making the right decisions for the city of Oskaloosa, decisions that ensure the rights and freedoms of all citizens were upheld and protected, this chamber must demand more than appeals to the supernatural, but rather rely only on taking an evidence-based approach to all decisions.”
In closing, Scott emphasized using reason and critical thinking skills when making decisions.
“Lastly, this chamber should not operate as merely a grouping of individuals looking out for themselves, but rather relying on one another, celebrating all that makes us different, and yet at the same time, so much the same. The human power of attempting to do the most good for the most number of people is the best power that any of us have, always using our reason and critical thinking skills to do so.”
The invocation ended with a quote from Robert Green Ingersoll, an American lawyer, veteran of the Civil War, political leader, and orator of the United States. Historically, Ingersoll is noted for his broad cultural influence and his defense of agnosticism.
“Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The only way to be happy is to make others so,” he concluded.
After the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, public comments were heard. Rev. Liz Colton of St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ was the first to rise in support. Colton has also personally delivered the invocation at prior council meetings, which all council members have traditionally stood up for.
“Whenever I am here to offer the invocation, I try to be very clear to be non-denominational and inclusive of whatever religious tradition may be present,” she began. “As a Christian, I believe in a gracious and loving God who wants nothing more than a just peace for all people, regardless of their faith, tradition, or lack thereof. I am not a person who condemns. As an American citizen, I recall the First Amendment to the Constitution, which very clearly supports a separation of church and state.”
Jim North of Oskaloosa also spoke in support of allowing Scott to deliver the invocation.
“It takes a brave and courageous person to speak in a hostile environment and shine a light on the hatred and fear others experience when confronted with something they were taught to fear and hate, something different than they have grown up with,” said North. “View this as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation.”
Differences of opinion were also voiced during the meeting. Oskaloosa resident Mary Ann Fawcett said she wasn’t there to be critical of Scott, but had an issue with his mission.
“I just don’t want to see someone’s mission being the end of our rights to pray in public places. If atheists have the right to invoke in public places, then we also should have the right to pray in public places,” she said.
Former 76th District Iowa State Representative Betty De Boef had thoughts to share as well, pointing out that she moved to Oskaloosa in March 2017.
“I’m a little disappointed to see an invocation brought by someone that doesn’t believe in invoking a deity. I don’t mean to sit in judgement on him personally, but I was under the impression that invocation was an invocation, which is to invoke a higher power. I pray for [the Oskaloosa City Council] all in the decisions that you make, and understand the difficulty you are in when you get—I assume this was a solicitation; I don’t know. But why don’t we use local people?”
Invocations are, by definition, “the action of invoking something or someone for assistance or as an authority.” Other definitions include “the summoning of a deity or the supernatural; an incantation.”
Prior to the meeting, council member Ver Steeg was a vocal opponent of allowing a non-local atheist to deliver the invocation. A statement from him was posted on the Facebook page “Oskaloosaiowachange,” which does not list a page moderator, and has nothing to show in the “About” section of the page. The post, which went up on June 30, prior to the meeting, gained dozens of comments, reactions, and shares, encouraging locals who believe in a higher power to refuse to stand during the invocation.
Before the meeting wrapped up, council member Walling commented that he would have preferred that City Manager Michael Schrock Jr. approach the council before approving the invocation.
As far as business conducted at the Thursday, July 6 meeting, the council took the following actions:
*Approved a resolution levying a special assessment against a private property for clean-up to abate a nuisance.
*Approved a resolution approving the sponsorship and submittal of a business financial assistance application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority on behalf of Clow Valve Company.
*Approved the North 3rd Street sidewalk project.
*Approved a motion to receive and file the 2017 Comprehensive Housing Needs Analysis for Oskaloosa.
*Held a closed session not open to the public to discuss strategy with counsel on a matter presently in litigation or in which litigation is imminent, where disclosure may be likely to prejudice or disadvantage to the City’s position.
*Mayor David Krutzfeldt announced vacancies for boards, committees, and commissions.
