Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, call the Inspector General of your agency. He/she should have an anonymous tip line.

Ditto. This sooo wrong. 8)

Yes, absolutely do this. It is shocking to me. Was it in the DC area? And was it a military-related office?

Anonymous wrote:John Ashcroft used to do this in the Justice Department. If it is optional, I'm guessing it's not going to be condemned. Personally, I think it's absolutely WRONG. Because whether it is in fact optional or not, the boss' presence might make it feel less than optional for the employees. Or maybe it's an opportunity to curry favor.

Yuck. Sorry.

It wasn't OK when Ashcroft did it and it is not ok here. The OP was "invited" to what I call a "mandatory fun" event at work, during the work day, while on the clock. All that said, there is not much the OP can do. She can complain to HR/IG/Office of Inclusiveness, but in the end all that will happen is that she will have rocked the boat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why does it bother you? what is wrong with fellowship and meditation? who was harmed?

Great, so can we do Wicca next week?

Yeah, how about some Muslims up in the house? Allah is great!

why would that be a problem either? pray to whomever you want to pray to - sounds good to me. We all need more prayer in our lives ....

It's not a problem, just do it in your home or house of worship. It does not belong in a secular situation.

Especially in a secular GOVERNMENT office!!!

This is completely inappropriate.

A harmless prayer meeting would not take place during work hours (except lunch or other break) and would not be supplemented with work materials or resources (such as catering payed for by work) and anyone who was invited would be told that it was a religious meeting.

I don't care if PPs think everyone needs a little prayer in their lives- and this IS harmful to work morale, to promoting and maintaining diversity, and to the boundaries between the church and the government, and religion and your secular job.

I would be SO UNCOMFORTABLE if I sat through this- just like I would be totally uncomfortable if I had to sit through a presentation before brunch about why religion is wrong (I'm agnostic).

It's proselytizing, plain and simple.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you "rounded up" or invited? Big difference. Was it framed as a meeting for all staff or were you told you were welcome to join in?

OP here: I took it as "rounded up" as everyone in the division was there and I was told "we're meeting in the conference room." When I started to grab a pen and pad, they said you won't need that, we're having "brunch." Apparently they have this every month. The main purpose was not to pray, but to eat the brunch and hang out. Yes, this is part of the work hours for everyone. The praying part happened first.

It is interesting that someone mentioned racism. I don't know if it changes anything, but I was the only white person in the group of 20. I think it was a cultural difference that I was not accustomed to in previous work environments, but it made me feel like I wouldn't fit in.

The way you just described it -- NOT OK, even with the Ashcroft precedent. Definitely report. NOT OK.

John Ashcroft used to do this in the Justice Department. If it is optional, I'm guessing it's not going to be condemned. Personally, I think it's absolutely WRONG. Because whether it is in fact optional or not, the boss' presence might make it feel less than optional for the employees. Or maybe it's an opportunity to curry favor.

Yuck. Sorry.

Anonymous wrote:Were you "rounded up" or invited? Big difference. Was it framed as a meeting for all staff or were you told you were welcome to join in?

OP here: I took it as "rounded up" as everyone in the division was there and I was told "we're meeting in the conference room." When I started to grab a pen and pad, they said you won't need that, we're having "brunch." Apparently they have this every month. The main purpose was not to pray, but to eat the brunch and hang out. Yes, this is part of the work hours for everyone. The praying part happened first.

It is interesting that someone mentioned racism. I don't know if it changes anything, but I was the only white person in the group of 20. I think it was a cultural difference that I was not accustomed to in previous work environments, but it made me feel like I wouldn't fit in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why does it bother you? what is wrong with fellowship and meditation? who was harmed?

Great, so can we do Wicca next week?

Yeah, how about some Muslims up in the house? Allah is great!

why would that be a problem either? pray to whomever you want to pray to - sounds good to me. We all need more prayer in our lives ....

It's not a problem, just do it in your home or house of worship. It does not belong in a secular situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why does it bother you? what is wrong with fellowship and meditation? who was harmed?

Great, so can we do Wicca next week?

Yeah, how about some Muslims up in the house? Allah is great!

why would that be a problem either? pray to whomever you want to pray to - sounds good to me. We all need more prayer in our lives ....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Next time explain that this is not within what you believe. If 20 people are going without a problem and actually enjoy this, why complain? Don't attend since it is optional.

Really doesn't matter that 20 people were participating and enjoyed it. There was a time when racism was completely institutionalized and it didn't make it right. If 20 people met in a government office conference room to discuss the rounding up of blacks and really enjoyed the discussion, would that be ok?

What does race have to do with this? Rounding up Blacks is not the same as a boss leading a prayer if this is part of this particular office culture. I have seen people hold a prayer over an office lunch and it was led by a supervisor. Some people stepped out for a few minutes. If other people in OP's office stay behind at their desks, she can do the same or step out during this prayer time. Prayer is not being institutionalized in every area of the Government, in ever office.

Anonymous wrote:OP, call the Inspector General of your agency. He/she should have an anonymous tip line.

Ditto. This sooo wrong. 8)

Were you "rounded up" or invited? Big difference. Was it framed as a meeting for all staff or were you told you were welcome to join in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why does it bother you? what is wrong with fellowship and meditation? who was harmed?

Great, so can we do Wicca next week?

Yeah, how about some Muslims up in the house? Allah is great!

Anonymous wrote:Next time explain that this is not within what you believe. If 20 people are going without a problem and actually enjoy this, why complain? Don't attend since it is optional.

Really doesn't matter that 20 people were participating and enjoyed it. There was a time when racism was completely institutionalized and it didn't make it right. If 20 people met in a government office conference room to discuss the rounding up of blacks and really enjoyed the discussion, would that be ok?

OP, were you the only one that seemed to not enjoy the praying?