by Heather Graf
MOUNT PLEASANT, Tenn. - A controversial new policy in the City of Mount Pleasant has people fired up about their religious rights.
New City Manager Michelle Williams has only been on the job for about three weeks.
She said it recently came to her attention that the city chaplain was holding a group prayer service several times a week inside city hall.
Williams said it's not the prayer she had a problem with, it's the fact that the prayer sessions were being done while employees were on the clock.
"It's just I can't have all the employees in a prayer session and not taking people's water and sewer bills," she said. "Or people who are out working on the sewer and water lines coming in and leaving their jobs for a prayer session, I just can't run the city that way."
When news of the new policy began to make its way through town, some people weren't pleased.
"I don't like it at all. It never has even come up in the 23 years we've been here, so I don't know why she brought it up now," said resident Nick Satterelli.
Others said they support Williams, and think she made the right decision.
"I think it's a good decision," said William Frost. "Prayer and work don't go together."
Still, Williams wants to set the record straight. She said the new policy was not at all intended to be a prayer ban.
"There is no ban on prayer, I am a Christian. I pray every day," she said. "In no shape, form, or fashion is there a ban on prayer."
She said she welcomes employees to pray at city hall, as long as the group sessions are done either before work, or afterwards.
"It was never banned, it was just moved to a better time, which is 7:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m.," she said. "If I didn't move the prayer sessions, some people would've said is that the best use of our tax dollars."
She said the prayer sessions at city hall were being held three to four times a week and lasted about 40 minutes each. During that time, the employees that took part were getting paid.
That will no longer be the case, effective immediately.
Chaplain Jack Taylor didn't want to comment on the controversy Tuesday night. NewsChannel 5 has learned he will lead a 7:30 a.m. prayer session at city hall, every Thursday, starting next week.
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