A Kirksville pastor wants invocation back at city council meetings.

Kirksville City Council meetings have started without an invocation since June 2021.

The removal of the invocation happened due to community members complaining that only one faith was being represented.

Meetings now start with the city's mission and vision statements being read, followed by a moment of silence for reflection.

The topic was brought back up in May, but meetings will continue without it after members voted 3 to 2 to not have it return.

Southside Baptist Church Pastor Aaron Rodgerson disagrees with that decision to continue with a moment of silence.

"I think that's ludicrous when you really think about it," Rodgerson said. "In our homes, [...] if someone says I don't want to hear what you have to say, well just have a moment of silence. That doesn't really share anything. That's really just them (the Kirksville City Council) giving credence to the other side."

The belief is the topic will be revisited again next year after the next round of elections.