SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) – Commissioners in one North Carolina county plan to continue offering Christian prayers at public meetings, regardless of a letter from a civil liberties group citing a recent Supreme Court action upholding a federal court’s ban on the practice.

The Salisbury Post reported (http://bit.ly/xtafV5 ) that a huge crowd turned out for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night to offer their support to the elected officials, who say they’ll defy a decision by the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals striking down so-called sectarian prayer, or prayer that’s explicitly linked to a particular religion, such as Christianity.

“If they tell county commissioners they can’t pray, soon they’re going to be in my church telling me I can’t pray in the name of Jesus,” said Terry Brown, a county resident who came to the meeting.

The appeals court’s ruling was in the case of the Forsyth County Board of Commissions. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by that board, letting the Fourth Circuit’s ruling stand. Since then, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has contacted 25 and 30 government bodies in North Carolina in response to complaints from residents about sectarian prayer.

So far, Rowan County commissioners are the only local officials who say they’ll disregard the court’s decision, said Katy Parker, legal director of the state ACLU. The group has asked for a response from the commissioners to its concerns by March 5. Salisbury is located about 40 miles northeast of Charlotte.

“We hope they’ll change their mind and follow the law,” Parker said.

The only other government body to openly disregard the court’s ruling so far, Parker said, is the General Assembly. There were Christian prayers before sessions of both the state House of Representatives and Senate during a brief meeting last week. Legislative leaders have said they’ll review the ACLU’s concerns, but criticized the group for sending a letter calling on lawmakers to end sectarian prayer.

Rowan County Commission Chairman Chad Mitchell began Monday’s meeting by addressing a prayer to “Father” and concluding with the words, “In Jesus’ name.” Commissioner Jim Sides said he’s prepared to go to jail over the question. Four of five Rowan commissioners say they plan to continue offering Christian prayers.

Only one of about two dozen members of the public who spoke Monday night argued that prayers offered to a specific deity don’t belong in government meetings.

“I think what’s going on right now is a clear example of why we need this law, and why it should be obeyed,” said Salisbury resident Chris Crowell, who compared the atmosphere of the meeting to a religious revival.

Salisbury residents John and Marina Bare, though, said the court’s ruling is an infringement on their rights. Marina Bare carried a sign with a red hammer and sickle and warned that the country was becoming a new U.S.S.R., or “United States of a Screwed-Up Republic.”

“The people who are trying to push the freedom of religion out of government are nothing more than people wanting to force others to do as they say and they believe,” John Bare said.

• Associated Press