Invocation

What is the purpose of an invocation?

The City Council [of Newport Beach] believes that the purpose of an invocation is to recognize the role that freedom of religion has played in the history of this country and the contribution that religious groups make to the quality of life in this community - and not to promote or discourage any particular religious belief.

Songbird, a minister with the United Church of Christ, says that when she delivers a public (not in church, but at a civic event) invocation:

I'm there to invite something greater than any of us to be present among us as we take up matters of gravity or rejoicing to the larger community.

Which definition resonates with you? I disagree that the purpose of an invocation, even a "civic" one, is to recognize the role of freedom of religion. I do like the idea the purpose of an invocation is to invite something greater to be among us. I might add that an invocation can also be an invitation to those present to prepare themselves to notice the presence of one who is greater.

If a minister or a lay person accepts the invitation to pray an invocation at a civic event, then he/she is accepting the challenge of invoking the presence of a higher power to a group that is probably more diverse that the group found in a church -- a group that can be expected to be of similar beliefs and denomination.

I don't think that it is an opportunity for conversion. It's a time to invite God's people to be present to God and an invitation for God to be present among his people.

I think that leading group prayer means that one is standing before God and being the voice of all those gathered together -- whether in a church or in a civic event. If we accept invitations to do that for a diverse group, then we are saying that we are willing to "stand in" for all of them before God.

I don't think that praying a pray which is distinctly of one belief set is offensive or exclusionary -- not really. I do think, though, that doing so is to abdicate responsibility for praying for all of those present. If we accept an invitation to be the voice for all gathered, and we are only the voice for those of own belief set, then we've failed in some way.

There are ways to achieve this kind of balance without compromising our own beliefs while at the same time, offering a universal prayer to our God, who has ears for all.