Victor Petersen and Staci Burk Stand Up for Prayer

Recently, I published two posts relating to the Gilbert School Board’s 9/4/2012 refusal to reinstate a non-denominational Invocation to open its governing board meetings. These included Daryl Colvin Asks Gilbert School Board to Bring Back the Invocation and Some Stand Firm; Some Crumble. Since that time, Hayley Ringle of the Arizona Republic published an article titled Gilbert School Board Stance on Prayer Upsetting Some.

Board member Staci Burk had proposed that the Board merely "discuss" the issue of reinstating the Invocation, but 4 board members–EJ Anderson, Helen Hollands, Blake Sacha, and Lily Tram–refused. As you will note in Hayley’s article, the basis of that refusal was "fear of a lawsuit."

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Christian Persecution: In Gilbert, Arizona

We imagine that persecution of Christians is remote. It happens "over there" in countries like Nigeria, as reported in World magazine, Standing with the Brethren. Not here. It can’t happen in America, much less in Gilbert. Nobody’s burning down our churches or shooting us as we attend religious services.

They don’t have to if we give up our core beliefs without a feeble whimper.

Have you ever wondered, "How does systematic persecution begin"? Would you recognize it if you saw it? Would you do anything to stop it?

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Please Stand Up for Prayer at Gilbert Governing Board Meetings

The Gilbert School Board meets tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7 pm.  The topic is “Should an Invocation be brought back to open the Governing Board meetings”?

Gilbert Public Schools – 7 pm
Building B
140 S. Gilbert Road
Gilbert, AZ 85296

Email address to all board members:  board@gilbertschools.net.

Please attend and speak up, or send an email in support of an Opening Invocation before Governing Board Meetings.

According to Staci Burke, GPS Board President:

“It appears that the U.S. Supreme Court in the Town of Greece case is leaning that it is Constitutional to continue the practice.  I expect that the board will likely be holding a meeting next Thursday at 5 pm to discuss adoption of a Resolution to bring back prayer to the Board meeting and discuss adopting a policy regarding such practice.  Under the law it will need to be non-denominational and all religions invited and treated equally in participation.”

Here is the item on tonight’s agenda.  (See the full agenda here)

10.02 Discuss the Adoption of a Resolution regarding an Opening Invocation before Governing Board Meetings.

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Ron Bellus Supports GPS Board Agenda Approval Change

Here’s the question that came before the GPS board on June 24, 2014:  Should the Superintendent of Gilbert Public Schools determine the agenda for the Governing Board meetings, as has been the policy since 2000?  Or should the president of the Governing Board set the agenda for Governing Board meetings?  

Ron Bellus, candidate for GPS Governing Board, explains below why the president should set the agenda.  

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