Mustang, OK Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

Ross Duckett, the Mayor of Mustang, OK promoted his annual “Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast” with Steve Largent, “who has announced his intention to run for governor of Oklahoma,” as the featured speaker.   

The promotion came in the city’s “Monthly Newsletter from Your City Government” and was mailed with every city resident’s monthly water bill. 

The promotion described Largent as “a person who has provided ‘a clear Christian voice in the Congress” and “a truly outstanding Christian gentleman.”

After receiving a complaint from Mustang citizens, the national organization of Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter on May 2, 2002 that advised the Mayor and the Mustang City Attorney:

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits government action that "has the purpose or effect of 'endorsing' religion."  County of Allegheny vs. ACLU, 492 U.S. 573, 592 (1989).  Pursuant to the endorsement principle, the government must refrain from conveying a message that religion or a particular religious belief is favored or preferred.  See id. at 593-94.  By advertising the Prayer Breakfast in a city newsletter that only contains items pertaining to the local government and city-sponsored activities, Mustang has conveyed the unconstitutional message that it supports and endorses this religious event.  The fact that city resources were used to disseminate the newsletter and the fact that the breakfast was specifically identified as the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast serve to compound the perception that the city is endorsing religion.

Americans United asked that the city of "Mustang be reimbursed for any costs associated with the promotion of this year's Prayer Breakfast and that in the future the city and its Mayor refrain from endorsing or advertising the event.  Because of the serious nature of this complaint, we ask that you respond to this letter within thirty days."

Home     Join Us    Contents     Search

Online since April 7, 1999

E- mail questions or comments about this web site to bprescott@mainstreambaptists.org

Copyright © 1999-2003 MAINSTREAM OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS   P.O. Box 6371  Norman, OK  73070-6371 (405) 329-2266.