I am not a very politically minded person, so I have tried to avoid watching the televised impeachment proceedings.  However, yesterday, as I watched the end of a local news show at 1 p.m., I became a captive audience for the opening prayer for those proceedings.

The opening prayer was being delivered by the Senate Chaplain, retired Rear Admiral Barry Black. There was only one other person in the same TV viewing frame with him. Standing just inches to his right was the presiding officer of the impeachment proceedings and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, John Roberts.

The Senate chaplain opened the proceedings with the following prayer:

“Let us pray. Eternal lord God, you have summarized ethical behavior in a single sentence. Do for others what you would like them to do for you. Remind our senators that they alone are accountable to you for their conduct. Lord, help them to remember that they can’t ignore you and get away with it. For we always reap what we sow. Have your way, mighty God. You are the potter; our senators and we are the clay. Mold and make us after your will. Stand up, omnipotent God; stretch yourself and let this nation and world know that you alone are sovereign. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

My point is this:  If, while opening a session of the Senate in the presence of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Senate chaplain can call upon our eternal, mighty and omnipotent lord God while praying in the name of Jesus, then our county commissioners, Salisbury City Council and local town councils should be afforded that same right.

Alvin R. Park

China Grove