The Stockbridge City Council recently passed a resolution creating the position of city chaplain and appointing the Rev. Terrance Gattis to fill the role. Gattis is pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
City attorney Michael Williams informed the council that two relevant U.S. Supreme Court rulings have deemed legislative chaplains permissible under the Constitution and allow sectarian prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions.
The chaplain’s position is a non-paid voluntary one, and the council can remove or change its appointment at any time according to the resolution. Its main responsibilities as outlined in the resolution are to provide spiritual guidance to council members when needed, coordinate the attendance of appropriate clergy to give invocations at meetings and provide comfort to the city during times of grief or discord within the community.
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