Manitoba’s premier wants to change the prayer that’s recited in the legislature to make it more inclusive of people who practise faiths other than Christianity, and those who hold no faith at all.
Wab Kinew told a breakfast gathering of faith leaders that while the prayer was stripped long ago of overtly Christian references, it still feels like a Christian prayer. It has references to God and uses archaic English, and ends with “amen.”
“I would ask, especially looking around the room here this morning at the people, the good Manitobans who’ve come together, whether that prayer is representative and inclusive of all of us here today,” he said at the Thursday morning multifaith gathering.
Kinew invited faith leaders and other Manitobans to redesign the prayer, which the Speaker of the House recites at the start of every question period at the Manitoba Legislature.
The current prayer was adopted in 1937. Since then, its wording has only had minor changes.
Support from other parties needed
After the breakfast, Kinew said in an interview it was House Speaker Tom Lindsey who proposed a refresh of the prayer. The premier said he supports the call.
Any change to the prayer, however, will require the consensus of the other parties. The decision will be left to the legislature’s rules committee, which is chaired by the Speaker, and includes the NDP and PC House leaders, as well as an independent member.
While Kinew said he has a “deep reverence for Christianity,” he feels a prayer refresh is another opportunity for Manitoba to rise to the challenge of becoming more inclusive.
“Time and time again, our collective society, through ups and downs, through many rocky and difficult situations calling on us to advance the project of reconciliation, we have shown fit to let our democratic institutions evolve.”
The full text of the daily prayer:
“O Eternal and Almighty God, from whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province.
Grant O merciful God we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly.
For the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.”
WATCH | Premier Wab Kinew speaks to faith leaders on Thursday:
Premier Wab Kinew is inviting faith leaders and other Manitobans to offer advice on ways to make the legislature prayer more inclusive of other faith traditions and people who hold no faith at all.