TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – For a few tense moments last week, Grand Traverse County’s long-standing tradition of opening commission meetings with an invocation was hanging by a thread.
A motion by Democratic Commissioner Ashlea Walter to rescind Grand Traverse County’s invocation policy came before the Board of Commissioners on June 10 and received support from her three fellow Democratic commissioners. However, the measure failed because changes to board policy require approval from a majority of the full nine-member board. With two Republican commissioners absent, the motion garnered enough votes to prevail among those present but finished one vote short of the five needed to officially repeal the policy.
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The board currently holds a 5-4 Republican majority. Republicans are Chairman Scott Sieffert (District 8), Penny Morris (District 9), Rob Hentschel (District 5), Darryl Nelson (District 6), and Brian McAllister (District 1). Democrats are Lauren Flynn (District 2), Ashlea Walter (District 3), Fern Spence (District 4), and TJ Andrews (District 7).
A tradition dating back decades.
According to the Grand Traverse County Republican Party, invocations have opened county board meetings since the 1970s. Party Chairman Larry Galehouse described the vote as a warning that well-established traditions can disappear quickly when attendance is low and political winds shift.
“The traditions of our community aren’t protected by sentiment,” Galehouse wrote in a message to fellow Republicans. “They’re protected by votes, by rules, and by who’s in the room when the rules get changed.”
What the policy actually says.
The county’s invocation policy was re-adopted in 2019 and cites U.S. Supreme Court decisions allowing legislative prayer before public meetings. The policy states that invocations are intended to “lend gravity” to public proceedings, encourage civility, and promote ethical decision-making.
The policy places clear limits on invocations, prohibiting speakers from using them to proselytize, elevate one faith above another, disparage other beliefs, or condemn any group. Participation is voluntary for both commissioners and the public. Commissioners who wish to take part may deliver the invocation themselves or designate another person to do so, or say nothing at all. Invocation duties are assigned from a list of commissioners who have volunteered. Each invocation is limited to three minutes unless additional time has been approved in advance.
Republicans sound the alarm.
In a statement, Galehouse thanked Board Chairman Scott Sieffert and Commissioners Penny Morris and Rob Hentschel for opposing the effort, highlighting Sieffert’s argument that the First Amendment protects speech people dislike, not merely speech they agree with.
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While Galehouse avoided directly attacking the commissioners who supported rescinding the policy, he warned supporters that procedural safeguards only work until they don’t.
“This time, a procedural safeguard held,” he wrote. “Next time, it might come down to one absence – or one election decided by a few hundred ballots.”
Commissioners respond.
Michigan News Source reached out to the commissioners for comment on the issue. Darryl Nelson, who was absent for the vote, said in a statement, “As the meeting was scheduled only the week before on a non-meeting week I had made plans that prevented me to be at the meeting. Had I been there I would have supported continuing having an invocation at the very start of the meeting.”
He continued, “ The invocation provides a moment of reflection, encourages humility and wisdom in our decision process. An invocation reminds us to act civilly, and reminds us of our shared responsibility to serve with integrity and respect. Recognizing God’s grace reflects the faith of many in our community and is meant to inspire and encourage, not to diminish or disrespect anyone with different beliefs.”
Can county government spare three minutes?
Democratic Commissioner TJ Andrews also responded saying, “My vote to end the official county invocation policy isn’t about partisan politics or restricting personal faith – it’s about practical, common-sense governance. I fully support the right of any commissioner, county employee, or member of the public who attends county commission meetings to pray or seek personal guidance before or after meetings, but prayer doesn’t need to be a formal, scheduled part of county business meetings.”
Andrews went on to say, “Getting straight to the public’s work is already the overwhelming, bipartisan norm in Grand Traverse County. Every month, hundreds of local government bodies – from township boards to the airport commission and zoning boards and many others – meet without a formal invocation. They stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and immediately get to work. No one accuses those local leaders of being hostile to faith just because they focus exclusively on government operations. Criticizing those of us who voted to do the exact same thing at county meetings is a double standard.”
Andrews concluded his statement by saying, “Voters elected me to manage tax dollars, maintain county infrastructure, and run county operations efficiently. This board should follow the everyday blueprint already used successfully by local governments across our region: honor our country with the Pledge, then focus our time on the public business we were elected to oversee.”
One vote away.
The failed motion serves as a reminder that even long-established traditions can be surprisingly fragile. For now, the invocation remains part of Grand Traverse County meetings. But if Wednesday’s vote proved anything, it’s that a practice that’s survived for decades can come within a single vote of becoming history.
