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Sumner County looks to support state resolution declaring July as month of prayer
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Sumner County commissioners will soon vote on a resolution asking for the 'Holy Spirit to move within the halls of government.'
It echoes a resolution signed by Gov. Bill Lee, which designates July as the annual month of 'prayer, fasting and repentance' in Tennessee.
'There is no denying that the world, and especially America, is a better place because of Christianity, not in spite of it,' said Sumner County County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield.
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Introduced in 2024 by State Representatives Monty Fritts and Mark Pody, the resolution declares the presence and importance of God within Tennessee.
The proclamation, House Joint Resolution 51, asks, in part, for Jesus to bring a 'righteous unity of vision and purpose to all Tennesseans.'
'That recognition of our sins and short-comings and asking God's forgiveness,' Mansfield said of the resolution. 'And asking God and Jesus to remove corruption, criminal violence, addiction from our state and restore marriages, strengthen families, which is going to be better for [our] communities.'
'This represents the values of our community, and represents the values of our constitution and our founding,' Mansfield added.
Mansfield does not believe any other county government in Tennessee has adopted a resolution like this, acknowledging July as a month of prayer. He said he hopes that changes before the end of June.
Of course, religion doesn't represent everybody in Sumner County, and not everyone is a Christian. What about those who may feel this is the government crossing a line?
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'I don't see the premise for it. If you read our Constitution, the government protects religious freedom. And we have a freedom of religion, not a freedom from religion,' answered Mansfield. 'And all of our Founding Fathers, most of them, were Christians. And our country, unequivocally, was founded based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'
Mansfield said residents that aren't 'spiritually inclined' do not have to participate in the month's holy recognition.
The Sumner County Commission is expected to review, and likely pass the resolution of acknowledgement on June 30.
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