“My name is Bender Bones. My pronouns are he, him. I am an ordained minister of the Satanic Temple.”
At a commission meeting last May, Bender Bones from the Satanic Temple of West Michigan praised Ottawa County for upholding religious freedom, and wondered how the temple could get an opportunity to lead the prayer that begins each commission meeting.
“The Satanic Temple of West Michigan would like to begin the process of becoming involved with opening prayers at these meetings.”
After a Grand Haven pastor who advocates for LGBTQ people sued the county to get an opportunity to say the opening prayer, the commission adopted a first come first served invocation policy. And now the Satanic Temple is on the list to pray before the meeting April 23rd.
“And I am looking forward to seeing what the Satanic Temple of West Michigan and the municipalities of Ottawa County can do when we work together under the banner of religious freedom. Hail Ottawa County and hail Satan.”
