Coach-led prayer on city council agenda

Pam Preston of Portales is concerned the rights of her grandchildren and other athletes that participate in Portales City League Sports are being taken away by eliminating coach-led prayer.

That's why she plans to attend a city council meeting Tuesday to voice her concerns. The exclusion of coach-led prayer in city league sports will be on Tuesday's agenda as a discussion led by Councilor Keith Thomas.

"My biggest concern is that by giving in to these people (those who have complained about organized prayer), they're taking away the rights of the majority of these kids," Preston said. "That's exactly what they're doing and that's not right."

Preston believes many will be in attendance to express their anger and concern about league sports Director Mike Doerr's decision.

Doerr told city league coaches last Tuesday that coach-led prayer will not be permitted to avoid possible legal issues.

Doerr said the leagues have a representation of multiple ethnicities, nationalities and religious backgrounds.

According to Doerr, family members of a player in one of the football leagues asked him if they had organized prayer. Doerr said the family was concerned because they didn't want to feel ostracized.

"If they don't want to be a part of it, they don't have to be a part of it," Preston said. "No one is saying they can't go in their own group and have their own prayer. They want to stop something because it makes them uncomfortable."

Doerr called his decision a proactive move after receiving advice from the city attorney's office. What angered others more is that Doerr said his decision was not up for discussion.

"Right now with what's going on in the world with the attacks to our embassies, it's a slap in the face to our freedoms," Preston said. "I just know that there are several parents and grandparents that have expressed their concern."

Thomas said he has spoken with many people in the community and plans to reveal his solutions to the issue at Tuesday's meeting.

"Come to the meeting and hear what I have to say," Thomas said. He declined to share any of his solutions prior to the meeting.

City Councilor Leo Lovett said councilors were told to expect a large group Tuesday.

"I'm looking forward to the meeting and to hearing from the citizens," Lovett said. "My personal opinion is that I wish that it didn't get this far and that I don't agree that we needed to be proactive in limiting prayer."

Lovett said he's heard from Roosevelt County residents that want to continue coach-led prayer as well as those who are concerned religious views should be handled within the family. He feels he has a solution that is fair for everyone.

"I have spoke to many folks and to me the best solution is for people to voluntarily come together at the end of the game, parents and kids alike, and pray," Lovett said. "The coach releases the players and everyone can meet at the 50-yard-line and we'll pray together."

Former Portales firefighter Dicky Massey is torn that he can't attend Tuesday's meeting because of a prior obligation but says he knows at least seven other people who told him they're going.

"I hope something comes of this and I hope people will be Christian about what they do," Massey said. "I kind of see both sides in a way but I think this is just another step of censoring out God in our everyday activities."

Massey has grandchildren playing football for the city league sports. He said he tries not to get in the middle of hot-button issues, but he feels this one hits home because it affects his beliefs.

"This is something I feel like I can't keep quiet about," Massey said "Sometimes we have to open our mouths."

Massey said he doesn't see this as stepping on someone's toes but as a concerned grandparent.

"If I'm just a parent or a coach or one of my kids or my grandchildren gets knocked unconscious, the first thing I'm going to do is get out there (on the field) and pray," Massey said. "I don't care who's there, I'm more concerned about that child. I'm more concerned about praying for the safety of all the athletes involved."