Delegate Don Dwyer, Others, Ordered to Leave State House After Leading Prayer


On Sunday January 9th, Delegate Dwyer, Senator Greenip, and Mr. Doug Stiegler of the Association of Maryland Families converged on the State Capital along with nearly 400 citizens and 80 church leaders from the four corners of the state for the purpose of lifting the state and our elected leaders up in prayer before the start of the 2005 legislative session.

This annual prayer has been going on for nearly 9 years and was started by Senator Greenip in an attempt to bring prayer to the legislative process. The group, outside, surrounded the Capital building along the lanes of State Circle while the group of pastors and church leaders prayed inside.

After Delegate Dwyer escorted nearly 40 pastors into the House Chamber, a security guard ordered Delegate Dwyer and the pastors to leave the chamber. When Dwyer questioned the guard, the guard indicated he had been directed to instruct Delegate Dwyer to leave. Delegate Dwyer refused to leave and continued with the prayer in the House Chamber with the Pastors.

"I explained to the guard that this is the people’s House and Chamber and I refuse to leave. Call it civil disobedience if you like," Dwyer said.

The guard then went to the other House and informed Senator Greenip that she and her guests had to leave the Senate Chamber. She ignored his request and kept praying with the nearly 40 pastors in the Senate Chamber.

Delegate Dwyer said, "God's people will not be silenced in Annapolis."

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