(Deborah) Maynard will give the morning invocation Thursday in the Iowa House. She’s a Wiccan priestess, leader of the Cedar Rapids covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans and a member of People’s Church here in town. She was invited to be the House’s “pastor of the day” by Rep. Liz Bennett, D-Cedar Rapids.This will be the first time that a Wiccan will have given the invocation here in Iowa. Usually, these are done by Christians, though we've occasionally received prayers from rabbis or imams.
She told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that she plans to offer an prayer that is "broad, friendly and inclusive" and "not be like a witches' blessing."
The Wild Huntreached out to Rep. Bennett for a comment about Maynard's inclusion and received the following response:
Each morning, a local religious leader gives an inclusive prayer to the Iowa House. I believe that the Iowa House belongs to the people, and that all people should be welcome. As a State Representatives it is not our role to endorse one religion over another, rather to represent our constituents. Deborah is a constituent who is Wiccan, and an active member of a local Unitarian Universalist faith community. She is happy to join us and give an inclusive prayer from her faith tradition. Why should the House not be as open to her as it would be to anyone else?Maynard to give the invocation tomorrow morning.
Some people might ask why I would invite a non-Christian. I would ask them why we should exclude a non-Christian.
There is room for all Iowans under the dome of the Iowa House.