Anonymous wrote:As a reasonable observer, I cannot conclude that the prayer was not officially endorsed. Sounds like OP agrees.

A supervisor leading prayer is not in and of itself an official endorsement. Read that entire link to understand the concept. Personally I would never lead or participate in prayer in the workplace because it's just a line I'm not comfortable crossing, but it's really hard to see in this situation that "Come to brunch" + supervisor-led prayer = official endorsement of religion.

As a reasonable observer, I cannot conclude that the prayer was not officially endorsed. Sounds like OP agrees.

PP here, quoting in part from that link. Here are the closest situations to sort of give you an idea as to whether this was actually inappropriate or prohibited:

(g) During lunch, certain employees gather on their own time for prayer and Bible study in an empty conference room that employees are generally free to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Such a gathering does not constitute religious harassment even if other employees with different views on how to pray might feel excluded or ask that the group be disbanded.

and

(a) At the conclusion of each weekly staff meeting and before anyone leaves the room, an employee leads a prayer in which nearly all employees participate. All employees are required to attend the weekly meeting. The supervisor neither explicitly recognizes the prayer as an official function nor explicitly states that no one need participate in the prayer. This course of conduct is not permitted unless under all the circumstances a reasonable observer would conclude that the prayer was not officially endorsed.

Reading this, it really doesn't appear to be prohibited behavior since you weren't required to attend brunch and there's no reason to think from your post that the prayer was officially endorsed.

Anonymous wrote:OP, here are the guidelines on religious expression in the federal workplace:

http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19970819-3275.html

This is worth reading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

Not PP. OP already said it was an invitation to brunch so it was not an official meeting.

You never have meetings or work functions with food? Really? So the fact that food was provided should have tipped her off that this is a private Christian prayer-group meeting, and she should not attend if she is not a Christ follower?

You should also read 17:17 .

Our group has prayer before big potluck luncheons (held maybe 2x a year). It's only one guy who leads, so if he's not there, there is no prayer. I'm Christian, but was surprised so I openly asked about this. The non-Christians in the group laughed it off, and only one guy rolled his eyes and shook his head as if to say, "Yeah, this is so wrong on so many levels." Like someone mentioned before, everyone is invited to the lunch, but has the option to leave during prayer. I always wondered if there would be a case if someone reported this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

Not PP. OP already said it was an invitation to brunch so it was not an official meeting.

Brunches and lunches can be official office functions.

Read 17:17 where OP explained that it is a once a month brunch party to hang out.

OP, here are the guidelines on religious expression in the federal workplace:

http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19970819-3275.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

Not PP. OP already said it was an invitation to brunch so it was not an official meeting.

You never have meetings or work functions with food? Really? So the fact that food was provided should have tipped her off that this is a private Christian prayer-group meeting, and she should not attend if she is not a Christ follower?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

Not PP. OP already said it was an invitation to brunch so it was not an official meeting.

Brunches and lunches can be official office functions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

I'm pretty sure OP is not giving all the facts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

Not PP. OP already said it was an invitation to brunch so it was not an official meeting.

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

Yes, people are free to pray before they eat. But from what OP described (a) she was led to believe this was an official office wide meeting (b) her office leader asked someone to lead the whole group in prayer. The government does not lead its work force in prayer at meetings.

AND -- if your boss is throwing a catering contract the way of the group leader, he has another really big problem.

I honestly think OP is reading this wrong. Everyone gathered for food, not to pray. You can not tell people that they can't pray when the want. They didn't force you to stay OP. you could have sat down or left during the prayer and returned to eat. Even if the prayer was led by the boss, he/she can pray when they want. I am not religious by the way. They didn't gather to pray, they gathered to eat and some people pray before they eat.

They'll know it was you. This so wrong, sorry. Maybe just show up late in the future to avoid the prayer.