Hamilton county Commissioners will vote next week on a resolution that would give any organized religious group an opportunity to conduct the opening prayer.
That comes as a Federal Judge sets a date to decide whether to halt the prayers pending a trial.
A non-profit group has agreed to pay the cost of that lawsuit.
All but four people stood as Pastor Calvin Nunley delivered the opening prayer at the county commission meeting.
REV. CALVIN NUNLEY, CHRIST FAMILY CHURCH "I thank you for the courage they have shown in this meeting ..to allow prayer to be made at the beginning of this meeting."
The minister's prayer, which ended with the words "in Jesus name" later brought angry opponents of the traditional invocation to the microphone at the end of the session.
STEVEN DISBROW, HIXSON " By continuing this practice, you are saying to non Christian , out of state and foreign businesses, we don't want your investment in our community."
TOMMY COLEMAN, "You are not representative of Hamilton county..you are an obstinate and exclusionary
government body."
Coleman is one of two men who filed suit earlier this month demanding a halt to the opening prayer.
Some spoke in support of the practice.
JIM ROGERS, OOLTEWAH "It is historically accurate to state that our founding fathers supported and sought the advancement of the Christian faith."
Commissioners adjourned the session and went into a meeting the Legal committee.
Thirty minutes later County attorney Rheubin Taylor announced a new resolution which will change the way individuals and organizations are selected to give the invocation.
The resolution cites a number of court rulings in setting up a database from which various religious groups are selected to do the prayer or moment of silence. Groups must apply to do so, but unlike now, individual commissioners will not make the selection.
Disbrow and Coleman brushed-off any impact that change could have.
STEVEN DISBROW "You know there are a lot of Wiccans in town, a lot of Buddists in town, a lot of Muslims in town..and these people are going to want their say."
TOMMY COLEMAN "They obviously, by doing this policy, have realized what they are doing is wrong...which is why they are attempting to rectify it now."
A federal judge set the initial hearing for the lawsuit on July 26th.
The non-profit Alliance Defense Fund and one local attorney will handle the lawsuit pro-bono for the county.
