Can Toastmasters Open a Meeting With Prayer?

Many of the clubs here in District 55 open their meetings with prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Some seem to feel that this is more than tradition–it’s How Things Should Be Done. On the other hand, there have been complaints about opening division- and district-level events with prayer. Some even say that prayer should never be used in a Toastmasters club.

Let’s see what Toastmasters International has to say:

What is the Invocator Role?

The invocation, usually a prayer or inspirational thought, is an optional part of club meetings. It is usually delivered by a designated club member at the beginning of the meeting, and is sometimes combined with or replaced by the pledge and/or the thought of the day. [Emphasis added]Delivering the Invocation

The invocation – usually a prayer or inspirational thought – is an optional part of club, area, division and district Toastmasters meetings. The organization neither encourages nor discourages invocations… Some clubs have replaced invocations with a thought for the day or an inspirational message…. It is up to each club to decide whether or not to include an invocation, thought for the day, inspirational message, and/or pledge at each meeting. The decision is made by majority vote at a club’s business meeting when a majority of active members is present. Club leaders are responsible for arranging and abiding by this vote. [Emphasis added]Policies and Procedures > Invocations and Pledges

There are several points worth noting from this material:

1. You can have an invocation, but you don’t have to
2. An “invocation” may or may not be a prayer. The invocator each meeting may decide whether they want to pray or give an inspirational thought, perhaps even one in line with the meeting theme.
3. The club should consciously determine whether they have an invocation and how it should be performed.
4. These rules apply the same to district level events as to club events. A district could vote to start each district meeting with a prayer

Just because other clubs/areas/divisions/district open their meetings a certain way does not mean you have to. Even if other invocators at your club always open with a prayer (or vice versa, an inspirational thought) you could choose to give the invocation differently, as long as it is in line with club policies.

What Prayers are Acceptable in Toastmasters?

Because Toastmasters is a worldwide organization that includes people from many different religious groups, a non-sectarian approach is required, and the speaker should be sensitive to the diversity of cultures and religions in the audience.[emphasis added]
Delivering the Invocation

Club leaders should remind members giving an invocation that they need to be sensitive to the diversity of cultures and religions in the audience.Policies and Procedures > Invocations and Pledges

The phrase “non-sectarian” is pretty clear. My interpretation is that invocation prayers should not reference any particular religion, holy writings or religious figure.

What About Free Speech?

One Toastmaster told me that she felt she had the right to open a meeting with any prayer she wanted—that if Toastmasters wouldn’t let her, that was infringing on her free speech and she would quit.

In my opinion, a club should be able to give sectarian prayers–as long as they are willing to give prayers representing any and all sects/religions/philosophies/cults.

Now, I personally don’t have a problem with denominational prayers if that is what the club is about. If a church runs a Toastmasters club, it’s perfectly reasonable for them to open with a prayer they feel is suitable. Other groups may similarly be strongly affiliated with specific religions.

The problem is, giving an invocation is different from giving a speech. When you’re giving a speech, you’re saying, in effect, “this is my opinion—please be the appropriate type of audience for this speech and give me feedback on delivery.” Even if they disagree with your religious, political or other viewpoint, you can still talk about it, just as they are free to deliver speeches with opposing viewpoints.

On the other hand, When you give an invocation, you are in effect saying “this club is under the umbrella of this invocation. I am representing the members of this club and associating the club with this invocation.” This is just my humble opinion, but if you don’t think this is true, try asking a guest who attended a meeting that opened with prayer. Did they associate the religious beliefs with the invocator or with the club?

Some corporate clubs have a corporate culture that is strongly religious, and that’s fine. But are you certain that your company wants to be associated with a particular religion? Are you sure that they don’t consider sponsoring your Toastmasters club to be “associated” with what the club does, including mandatory prayers?

The problem with most community clubs (and corporate clubs as well) is that it’s all too easy for the majority to assume unanimity. In fact, sometimes they aren’t even the majority! Some members may have strong viewpoints, and assume that everyone else in the club shares their viewpoints. However, in any group of more than a few people, odds are good that some identify as atheistic or a minority religion, or may not be comfortable identifying with any religion at all.

Do you have free speech? Of course you do. The problem with free speech is that you have to let other people have it too. If your community club decides they want to open each meeting with a prayer, that’s fine. If you decide you are going to give a strongly, obviously Christian prayer, that’s fine… but are you prepared to let others have the same freedom? Would you allow others the same respect you expect if they wanted to open with prayers representing…

• Hinduism?
• Wicca?
• Islam?
• Satanism?
• Scientology?
• The Flying Spaghetti Monster?

It’s your choice. Non-sectarian prayers, or allowing the beliefs of all of your members to be represented.