Ottumwa Invocation Dispute Puts City Policy Under Scrutiny

Former Ottumwa City Council member Matt Dalbey delivered an invocation ending with “Hail Satan” at the city council’s October 6 meeting, prompting an objection from a local pastor and a brief pause in proceedings. Dalbey spoke under a policy adopted in January that allows people with varied religious and nonreligious beliefs to offer opening invocations. After Dalbey’s remarks, New Life Center pastor Rick Bick called the invocation a curse on the city and urged officials to reverse it immediately. Council member Cara Galloway said Bick should wait until public comment. Mayor Benjamin Foote then called for about 30 seconds of silence, after which the meeting continued. Dalbey is a member of the Satanic Temple of Iowa, which describes itself as nontheistic. He told local media that the invocation is used by the group and does not express belief in a satanic deity. The remarks included appeals to reason, knowledge and individual autonomy before their closing words. Ottumwa’s policy permits speakers representing organized and unorganized religions, other belief systems and no religious belief.