Jefferson City, USA - The Missouri House is considering a resolution that supports prayer in school and public displays of religion as a recognition of the role that Christianity has played in the nation.
Although it has no force of law, the resolution has attracted both praise and criticism from Christian pastors and causing division among legislators.
Sponsoring Rep. David Sater, a member of the First Baptist Church of Cassville, said his only goal was to honor the positive influence of Christianity.
"The majority of our forefathers were Christian," said Sater, R-Cassville. "They used the Ten Commandments to form the foundation of this nation."
The measure, now awaiting debate by the full House, passed out of the House Rules Committee last month on a partisan vote, with Republicans for it and Democrats against it.
The resolution states that legislators "stand with the majority of our constituents and exercise the common sense that voluntary prayer in public schools and religious displays on public property are not a coalition of church and state, but rather the justified recognition of the positive role that Christianity has played in this great nation of ours, the United States of America."
The Rev. Bob Towner, of Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau, said he doesn't understand why legislators would make such a statement.
"The whole thing is preposterous," Towner said. "This assumes all Christians think alike and that there is a majority position. The truth is we don't all think alike."
But the Rev. Derek Staples, of Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, applauded lawmakers for taking a stand. He said it seems Christians are constantly being asked to remain silent out of respect for other religions.
"Because the church of Jesus Christ is very prominent in America, you cannot separate the church from the country," Staples said.