California City Council OKs Prayers in Jesus’ Name

02.10.09, CHARISMA (US). City officials in Lodi, Calif., voted unanimously Wednesday to allow prayers in Jesus' name before City Council meetings. The 5- 0 vote reverses a policy instituted in May that required all prayers to be "non-sectarian and non-denominational." The council is developing a new prayer policy allowing uncensored invocations that avoid favoring any religion. The policy also would encourage participation by representatives from diverse religious and nonreligious groups, the Lodi News-Sentinel reported.