How are prayers or invocations before public meetings picked? Updated: Aug. 02, 2013, 6:35 p.m. ... and it has created some truly inspirational moments." Birmingham Board of Education.

In a 5-4 majority opinion in Town of Greece vs. Galloway, the U.S. Supreme Court wrote that official Christian prayers before meetings of local government are permissible. But there are conditions ...

Invocations such as this are important to those who believe prayer is an inspirational way to begin council meetings. ... the prayers common at many town meetings leave them feeling left out.