LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) -- Jesus was mentioned in the invocation for Thursday's city council meeting in Longview and the prayer drew a hearty "amen" from people who told the council they have a legal right to a Christian invocation.
Complaints prompted the mayor last month to ask the Kelso-Longview Ministerial Association to stop invoking Christ in invocations because it could expose the city to a lawsuit.
Mayor Don Jensen told the audience that until the council takes formal action to remove the invocation from meeting agendas, the prayer stays.
Jensen told The Daily News (http://bit.ly/10QHWaL ) the council expects to discuss the policy next week at a workshop.
Association members no longer provide invocations. A councilman invited Baptist Pastor Larry Pedigo to deliver Thursday's prayer.
