This issue over whether or not to have public prayer in a small town in Virginia—a decision that could have far-reaching implications throughout the state—will (hopefully) be settled with a round of civil mediation.

What caused the issue, and what exactly is at stake? Read on to find out.

Where the Workplace Mediation All Started

Procurement specialist Barbara Hudson, a business development manager at a local recycling and trading company, has taken issue with a practice of the Pittsylvania County Board of supervisors.

She has taken them to task over their use of prayer at board meetings. She claims that she suffered injury in the past when the board held sectarian Christian prayers during its meetings (all meetings). Hudson claims that this practice made her and others feel isolated.

Mediation and Prayer are Bigger than Any One Person

Hudson contacted the ACLU, who is taking the case on her behalf. It claims that prayers by a public body are indicative of an endorsement of one specific religion over another.

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors denies that it intends to publicly endorse one religion over the other. It claims that its actions fail to do so as well.

This Civil Mediation May Truly Be Civil

Both Hudson and the Board have requested mediation services to help sort out the issue. That puts to task the description by State Senator Bill Stanley (also the attorney for the board), who has painted the picture of Hudson as someone who simply hates the board.

The hopes by both sides are the civil mediation services will be able to sort out the issue, without either side having to spend time in court.