A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus.
-- From "Pastor Yanked From Capitol Over 'Jesus' Prayer" by Todd Starnes, FoxNews.com 7/9/10
“I got fired,” said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation.
“When I handed [the prayer text] to the [House clerk], I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus,” he told FOX News Radio. “She said ‘We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.’”
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From "N.C. House leaders consider changes to prayer rules" The Associated Press 7/9/10
"My response to her was I am a Christian, and as a Christian I too can be offended, and I am offended if I cannot pray in the name of Jesus," Baity said.
Baity said he was allowed to give his prayer May 31 but was told that his services weren't needed beyond that.
Lawmakers plan to review procedures for guest chaplains in the state House after one pastor complained that he was asked not to refer to Jesus.
House Speaker Joe Hackney and Minority Leader Paul Stam said they plan to make sure the House rules on prayers are constitutional, multiple media outlets reported.
For many years, the House has requested, but not required, that guest chaplains deliver nonsectarian prayers.
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