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[ex_mo]

My Catholic SLAC starts everything with a prayer by a priest (who is also on the faculty).  Faculty meetings, graduations, everything. 

They also give out wine.  So I'm OK with it. 

[untenured]

While the topic is interesting to read about, be pragmatic.

Does the organization benefit you?  If so, go.  Does it not benefit you?  If not, don't.

Don't let this prayer business get in the way of whatever you need to get out of the organization.  The organization is a better place with you in it.

While the prayer is going on, space out.  Or lie back and think of England.

[untenured]

The prayer is meant to make non-religious people feel uncomfortable and drop out of the organization. Classic passive-aggressive Christianism.

Hehe.  Imagine the opposite.  Picture a leader at a public gathering huffing about having to wish people Merry Christmas because there are so many (*sigh*) Christians in the group.  People would go nuts.

[aprilmay]

What type of professional organization is this? Are you able to share this?

Praying at a professional organization is like starting a faculty meeting in prayer. Unless it is a religious organization, this is really odd, at best. What does the prayer have to do with the goals of the professional society? I'm wondering what they prayed for.

Run run run.

As for the thought of staying because the organization may benefit you, do consider all possibilities. Your associations reflect on you. If someone attends, expecting a professional meeting, and they are met with prayers, they are going to remember it forever and you will be remembered as the prof from that non-professional "professional" group. It will make you look unprofessional. How many of us will remember "clean" as the forum member who thinks there's nothing wrong with having prayers at professional meetings?

[weathered]

I went through this last year. I am secular and felt very awkward about it. You should run from them or else they would get more and more aggressive.

[catalyzer]

MY SLAC begins every college-wide faculty meeting with a prayer. Usually it's something relatively innocuous (this place does have a religious affiliation, but is overall pretty secular). I just sit quietly and use the time to make eye contact with the other non-Christians in the room. No eye-rolling, just acknowledging each other and taking comfort from that.

In the case of secular professional organization though, seems like they are inviting difficulties.