Mayor Friday Ellis is hosting a 90-minute prayer breakfast Tuesday morning at the Monroe Civic Center. On the surface, that sounds like a noble idea — a ministers coming together in unity and faith. But anyone who has lived a few years knows that when politicians say “prayer breakfast,” it often translates to “political meeting for preachers.”
There’s a long-standing difference between a prayer breakfast called by the clergy and one called by a politician. When Reverend Harold McCoy gathered ministers at Bethel Baptist Church in October 2023, the event lived up to its name. There were no speeches, videos, pitches, or photo ops. After the welcome and the breakfast, it was ninety minutes of genuine prayer — preachers praying for the city, the people, and the peace of Monroe.
The same could be said for the recent prayer breakfast at Carroll High School. That one, too, was called by ministers, not public officials. The principal gave a brief four-minute welcome, and the rest was devoted entirely to prayer. No hidden agendas. No talking points. Just prayer.
That’s why many are now wondering what kind of “prayer breakfast” the Mayor’s office is planning for Tuesday because it is not being organized by local clergymen — it’s being called by City Hall.
Real prayer meetings won’t have multimedia presentations, policy updates, or speeches.
Rev. Rodney McFarland, president of the Monroe City Council and Moderator of the Old Line Baptist Association, said he finds it interesting that once the mayor learned of the recall petition being circulated against him that he sends out a prayer call. “When he heard about the recall, then suddenly there’s prayer call,” said Rev. McFarland.
“I plan to be there,” said Rev. McFarland, “I also plan to pray, but he’s not going to like what I’m going to tell God.”
