BY ANDY TAYLOR

COFFEYVILLE — Invocations will be included in future Coffeyville Community College graduation ceremonies after a CCC trustee voiced concern about the lack of an opening prayer at the May 14 commencement.

At the CCC trustees’ monthly meeting on Monday, trustee Blake Allen asked president Linda Moley why the May 14 graduation ceremony did not include an opening prayer, which, Allen claimed, was customary in previous graduations. Moley said some faculty members had opposed having a prayer at the graduation ceremonies. Moley said she made the decision to not include the prayer based on the faculty members’ opinions.

“What are we running from? The Kansas Legislature opens each day with a prayer. The U.S. Congress opens each day with a prayer,” Allen said.

Trustee chairman Becky Medley said she felt Moley was trying to be politically correct in keeping prayer off the commencement agenda.

“Then let’s be spiritually correct,” said Allen. “I can’t imagine why it would offend anyone.”

“I can’t either, Blake,” replied Medley.

Trustees then voted 4-1 to include invocations at future graduation exercises. Trustees voting in favor of the measure were Blake Allen, Lue Barndollar, Becky Medley and David Baldwin. Trustee Buck Walton refused to vote on the motion, which counts as an abstained (or no) vote. Trustee Sheri Melander was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Watch for the May 19 edition of the Montgomery County Chronicle for more details of the CCC trustee meeting.