National Day of Prayer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| National Day of Prayer | |
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| Observed by | Religious Americans |
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| Date | First Thursday in May |
| 2008 date | May 1 |
The National Day of Prayer is a day designated by the United States Congress as a day when people are asked to come together and pray, especially for their country. It is held on the first Thursday in May.
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[edit] History
There have been several national days of prayer in the U.S. before the day was made official in 1952. The Continental Congress issued a day of prayer in 1775 to designate "a time for prayer in forming a new nation". On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a National Prayer Committee formed to coordinate and implement a fixed commemorated day of prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan amended the law decreeing that the National Day of Prayer should be held on the first Thursday of May. A claimed intention of the National Day of Prayer was that it would be a day when members of all faiths could pray together in their own way.[citation needed]
[edit] National Day of Prayer Task Force
The National Prayer Committee created a non-governmental organization called The National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events specifically for evangelical Christians for the National Day of Prayer. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, they work out of facilities from Focus on the Family, a Christian organization. Shirley Dobson (wife of Focus on the Family founder, James Dobson) is currently at the head of the Task Force.
The Task force's website says in their FAQ section: "Americans of all faiths are encouraged to participate in the [National Day of Prayer] according to their own traditions. However, the [National Day of Prayer] Task Force provides promotional materials and sponsors several events in keeping with the Judeo-Christian tradition". The application for volunteer coordinators with the Task Force lists the following as a primary qualification, "Commitment to Christ. A volunteer must be an evangelical Christian who has a personal relationship with Christ. I acknowledge that I am working for the Lord Jesus Christ and the furthering of His Work on earth and agree to perform my work with the highest standard of Christian faith."[citation needed]
[edit] Controversy
Issues of government involvement with religion are often disputed because of the Establishment clause in the First Amendment. While the free-exercise clause allows for this type of event to be organized by non-governmental bodies, the U.S. Congress may not pass any laws enforcing religious observances.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force argue for the constitutionality and need for a National Day of Prayer, claiming that the "Founding Fathers did not mean for our government to be separated from our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob".
Those opposed to a national day of prayer have established another observance that coincides with the National Day of Prayer called the National Day of Reason. Groups such as NYC Atheists have organized blood donations on the same day.[1]
Furthermore, Jews on First and the Council of American Islamic Relations maintain that that the National Day of Prayer Task Force improperly turned the event into an evangelic gathering that is not inclusive of other religious groups.[1]
