The Alabama Board of Education (BOE) met on Thursday with Gov. Kay Ivey recognizing Rev. Candice Frazer of the Church of the Ascension in Montgomery to offer an opening prayer.
During the prayer, Frazer called for those in attendance to "ask forgiveness for those things we have done and those things we have left undone." Going on to say, "We acknowledge and bewail our shortcomings and failures...The racial injustice we perpetuate through our policies and practices and removal of diversity, equity, and inclusive programs."
State law and the U.S. Department of Education prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in K-12 and schools of higher education.
“My Administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity, however, I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses — or wherever else for that matter — to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe," Ivey told 1819 News upon signing the bill into law.
Frazer said in her prayer as follows:
Thank you. Let us pray.
Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, we come to you in a season of penitence amidst turbulent times, naming our failings and injustices.
We have not loved one another as you have called us to. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We ask forgiveness for those things we have done and those things we have left undone.
We acknowledge and bewail our shortcomings and failures. Those we have failed to educate. Those who we have treated with indifference or manifested harm.
The racial injustice we perpetuate through our policies and practices and removal of diversity, equity, and inclusive programs.
The hardening of our hearts. Our desire to maintain the status quo.
Our lack of trust in the creative and transformative energy that you have inspired in all of creation.
We offer ourselves to your mercy and renew our hope in your grace that through our manifold sins and iniquities you might redeem us, encourage and strengthen us, helping us to remember that our differences do not weaken us, but knit us together into one body, one family, so that inspired by your spirit and reconciling love, we might partner with you and one another in the building up of the education system of Alabama and thus our state and in nurturing minds, hearts, and bodies to further those purposes that are true, good and beautiful in this world.
It is in your loving name that we pray. Amen.
State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey told 1819 News that he doesn't think cleaning up the language warrants asking for forgiveness.
“We haven’t added or removed anything from our schools for which I think we need forgiveness,” Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey told 1819 News. “I feel like cleaning up the language was the right thing to do. All of those code changes passed unanimously.”
RELATED: Ivey signs into law ban on taxpayer-funded DEI departments
According to the Department of Education, a member of the administrative staff schedules those who open the meetings in prayer.
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