Not a Prayer — A Message to the Room: Pastor Paul Vannoy’s Performance at the CDA City Council
A “Prayer” That Sounded More Like a Speech
During the October 7, 2025 Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting, Pastor Paul Vannoy stepped to the podium to “pray” in recognition of the Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance. But what followed wasn’t a prayer, it was a polished public address wrapped in religious language.
Instead of speaking to God, Vannoy’s delivery targeted the audience. He thanked city leaders, praised political allies, referenced Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk as a personal friend, and urged unity “around truth”, a phrase that, in context, echoed a specific ideological message rather than a spiritual one.
(Embedded Video: Pastor Paul Vannoy’s “Prayer” before the CDA City Council)
Public Piety or Political Performance?
At first glance, Vannoy’s remarks appear reverent. But beneath the surface lies a rhetorical tactic scholars call performative piety, the use of prayer to deliver moral or political commentary under the protection of religious expression.
By opening with gratitude toward the mayor and council members, Vannoy aligned himself with local leadership, reinforcing civic legitimacy before transitioning into his real message: a moralized eulogy for Charlie Kirk that subtly sanctified Kirk’s political mission.
Vannoy’s phrasing — “We need to unite around truth” and “the proclamation of the gospel that Charlie himself believed and proclaimed” — framed political loyalty as spiritual obedience.
When “Unity” Means “Agreement”
Throughout his “prayer,” Vannoy emphasized unity, dialogue, and openness, but only around “truth.” This framing implies that unity is only possible when others accept his version of truth.
“We grieve for those unwilling to hear the voices of those they disagree with,” Vannoy said, appearing to mourn ideological division while subtly rebuking dissenters.
It’s a rhetorical sleight of hand: lamenting division while simultaneously drawing the line between the righteous and the wrong.
Turning Faith Into a Tool
The moment reveals how religion can be wielded as a soft form of political influence in local government spaces. By embedding political identity into spiritual language, Vannoy delivered a message that could not easily be challenged, because to question it would be to question faith itself.
In this sense, his “prayer” wasn’t an act of worship; it was a performance of virtue, a sermon aimed outward, not upward.
Why It Matters
When public officials or invited speakers use prayer to advance political narratives, it blurs the boundary between church and state, transforming spiritual moments into ideological theater.
The Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting wasn’t just a civic event, it became a stage for moral signaling, where applause and “amens” replaced genuine reflection. This kind of performative religion doesn’t invite humility; it asserts dominance cloaked in reverence.
Final Thought
Pastor Paul Vannoy’s appearance before the city council may have been called a prayer, but it was, in every practical sense, a message to the room which was meant to influence hearts, not to lift them.
As citizens, we must discern when faith is being expressed and when it’s being used.
Dawna Wilson is the dynamic co-host and producer of Liberty Without Compromise, a weekly livestream uncovering the political undercurrents of Kootenai County—from local officials and influencers to hidden alliances. With a background in radio broadcasting, Dawna brings sharp storytelling and journalistic integrity to every episode, providing clarity and depth on complex local and national issues.
Outside the broadcast, she applies her media expertise as a consultant and producer and plays a strategic role on the Dan Wilson for Kootenai County Sheriff campaign as Media and Communications Director. Her work is driven by a commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability in local governance.