Every month, the Narrabri Council meeting is opened by a prayer led by a local minister. This has been happening for many years now. In fact the Local Government Act requires Council meetings to be opened with a prayer. This is usually a set prayer read by the Mayor as a part of the formalities that need to be got through.

In Narrabri the Ministers set out a roster that is sent to the Council. It works out that each minister gets the job once or twice a year. We keep it brief, aware that we are there as invited guests and not there to preach. Most ministers share a short Bible passage and then pray for a blessing on the meeting.

Apart from the  fact that I am allergic to men in suits and always feel very anxious in the role, I have mixed feelings about this practice.

On the one hand I am always dubious about the subverting of the church by the culture in these situations. If the church gets too close to political institutions we can too easily confuse the kingdom of men with the Kingdom of God. To ask for God's blessing on a meeting can be interpreted as God agreeing with all that happens.

On the other hand, it is an opportunity for the Word of God to be heard in local government and by the civic leaders of the community. Maybe the Holy Spirit can quicken the spoken word to the hearts of the men and women present. This morning I read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) and prayed for righteousness and integrity to rule over all the decisions made there.

I pray that God will bless our local councillors and our community.