Prayer Service for Graduates Planned

In the wake of a California Supreme Court decision prohibiting prayer at graduation ceremonies, eight Ventura churches have joined to sponsor a baccalaureate service for the county’s high school seniors.

John Huffman, pastor of South Coast Fellowship Faith Center, said the prayer service, scheduled for Sunday, is not being held in response to the court decision, but has been in the planning stages for several months.

The timing of the service, following the court’s May 6 decision, was “one of those divine coincidences,” Huffman said.

“We felt that since prayer has been taken out of the schools, and over the years there’s been a greater separation of church and state, that there’s been a gradual decline in spiritual things,” Huffman said.

The service is open to graduating seniors countywide and their families and friends, Huffman said.

The eight Ventura churches sponsoring the service are College Heights Baptist Church, Community Presbyterian Church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, First Assembly of God Church, First Baptist Church of Ventura, Horizon Foursquare Church, South Coast Fellowship Faith Center and the Ventura Missionary Church.

Guest speaker at the ceremony will be Cincinnati Bengals football player Anthony Munoz, a former Thousand Oaks resident. Music will be provided by singers Steve and Linda Tavani.

The service begins at 6 p.m. at Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Drive in Ventura.