NLV pastor delivers opening prayer at Senate

Benjamin Grove

Friday, July 22, 2005 | 10:54 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Moments after North Las Vegas pastor Percell Church delivered the opening prayer of today's Senate session, Reid thanked him in remarks on the floor. Reid offered kind praise for the Zion United Methodist Church leader.

Then, turning to Senate business, Reid promptly lashed out at Republican leaders for their handling of a Defense spending bill, sparking a verbal fracas with Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Later, when Reid and Church met in Reid's Capitol office, he apologized to the pastor for the political fracas.

No apology was needed. Church, a former political science major, had loved it.

"I wished I'd had a tall cool drink and a few peanuts, so I could have really sat back and watched," Church said in an interview. "He's (Reid) just on fire for the people."

A few times a month senators invite religious leaders from their states to deliver a daily opening prayer.

A Reid staffer attends Zion, and Reid has attended services there. Church and his family moved to Las Vegas about two years ago from New Orleans to take the helm from Marion Bennett, who had served there for 40 years.

Since the 2004 elections, both Republican and Democratic leaders have sought to further explore how faith influences politics and elections. Conservative religious groups have claimed credit for GOP successes in the 2004 election. But Democrats have argued that their historic commitment to helping the disadvantaged make them more in line with religious doctrines.

Reid, who is Mormon, today said religion was a private matter.

"I don't think religion should be used in a political way," Reid said.

But Reid also said Democrats could make more connections with people of faith than the party has in the past. Toward that end, Reid this week launched a Web site that he calls "A Word to the Faithful." Reid also plans an Aug. 24 "faith symposium" in North Las Vegas for religious leaders to discuss the role of religious organizations in helping the needy.

Church clasped hands with Reid today in Reid's office for a prayer. Church said he sometimes talks about the "three P's" -- people, politics and prayer.

"The prayer balances the people and the politics," Church said.

Church said he encourages his parishioners to be politically active. But despite his relationship with Reid, and a friendship with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., Church said religious leaders should lead for all people regardless of their politics.

Church said that as Democrats and Republicans jockey for votes, the phrase "the party of the faithful" amounts to "some dangerous words."

"If we can continue to remember that it's the people -- not the party -- that we are legislating for, then we can stop labeling so much 'Democrat' and 'Republican,' " Church said.