SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — Rowan County commissioners have opened their latest public meeting with a prayer, one week after the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina filed a lawsuit over the practice.

The Salisbury Post reports (http://bit.ly/WzNuX4) that commission vice chairman Craig Pierce began Monday's meeting by praying for "intelligence, wisdom and courage" and ended the prayer to his "personal lord and savior."

Attorney Bryce Neier of the Alliance Defending Freedom encouraged the commissioners to stand up to the ACLU. Neier worked with Forsyth County when it was sued over prayer during public meetings

The complaint filed last Tuesday in U.S. District Court by the ACLU accuses the board of violating the First Amendment provision ordaining the separation of church and state by routinely praying to Jesus Christ to start its meetings.

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Information from: Salisbury Post, http://www.salisburypost.com