BRIDPORT: Does new mayor 'know more than God?'

The new Mayor, Councillor Dave Rickard, has decided to replace formal prayers with a short time of quiet private contemplation; he has also invited the Reverend Canon Andrew Evans to represent the council for religious elements of the civic year.

In his speech at the mayor making ceremony last week Mayor Councillor Rickard said: “I will be asking Canon Evans for an ecumenical approach to civic occasions to include those of all faiths and none.”

Christian councillor Karl Wallace has questioned whether the councillor should have even become mayor if he is not willing to embrace the town’s religious tradition, and stated the decision was like suggesting “he knows more than God”.

Canon Andrew Evans, Team Rector for the Bridport Team Ministry, said he respected the new mayor’s decision but was “saddened” by the decision.

“I believe the office of Mayor to be above personal and political conviction and affiliation,” he said. “The ecclesiastical and civil authorities in the United Kingdom are united in the Crown with Her Majesty as Head of State and Head of the Church and prayers before the work of the council begins still seems somehow very appropriate.

“We shall certainly be continuing to pray for the council and its councillors in all the churches of our Team on a regular basis.”

Outgoing Mayor, Councillor Geoffrey Ackerman, was also against the decision. He said: “I didn’t go with that idea at all, I like tradition. This is the first time this has happened, and the next mayor may bring it all back, but I don’t like to see these traditions die out.”
Councillor Karl Wallace said the decision was a big mistake and questioned whether it was right for the new mayor to make the judgment.

“I have strong Christian beliefs and he may have strong non-Christian beliefs but is it really up to him? Is he saying he knows more than God?” he said.

“Going into that role you have to respect other peoples beliefs. Should he actually become mayor if he can’t do that? Such a large part of the role is to do with ceremony, and religion is often tied up with that. Some may argue that they do this in other councils but do two wrongs make a right? We are not other towns and this is a mistake.”

Another former Mayor, Councillor Sandra Brown, said that many of the council were against the decision.

She said: “I feel very strongly about it and there are several of us on the council who are quite dismayed by it. Sadly though I don’t think there are enough of us to make him change his mind.

“It is one of our traditions and I think it’s an awful decision to stop it. I’m biased I suppose because I am a great believer in the power of prayer and I have seen it in action, but I think for the sake of five minutes at the beginning of a meeting, it should stay.”

Despite objections from many councillors, Deputy Mayor Maggie Ray has supported the decision.

“Personally I like the tradition but I can very well understand it is out of kilter with modern day life, where not many people are regular church goers,” she said.

“I’m happy with the decision. It’s his decision and if the next mayor has a more traditional outlook then he can re-instate the prayers.”

In a statement issued this week Canon Andrew Evans concluded: “I am sure that I speak for all the members of the town’s Christian community when I say we wish Councillor Rickard a very successful and happy year as Mayor and are very supportive of his wish to see the Rights Respecting Community flourish.”

PICTURE: New mayor, Councillor Dave Rickard, has caused controversy by scrapping prayers at council meetings