A group of Christian legislators refused to attend the opening of Thursday’s session for the Iowa Legislature because a Wiccan priestess gave the invocation.

Wiccan Deborah Maynard, who says she’s a “Unitarian Universalist”, prayed to the universe and the earth.  Democratic Representative Liz Bennett of Cedar Rapids who invited the Wiccan speaker said she wanted people to know the statement made by Maynard would be “inclusive.”

The chamber was half empty for Maynard’s talk as Christian legislators attended a prayer rally.

“We feel that this is completely out of sync with the traditions of our state and our nation to seek guidance from the occult,” Michael Demastus, pastor of Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, told reporters. “We believe it is just not a good idea.”

He said that as Maynard spoke, “I was praying for her salvation. I was praying that she would come to know the one true God.”

One Christian legislator said he stayed in the chamber but turned his back on the priestess while she delivered her talk.

“I thought to myself, ‘What would Jesus do?’” Rep. Rob Taylor (R-West Des Moines) stated. “Jesus would be in the chamber from my perspective. He would passively protest and then He would seek that individual out and have a peaceful conversation with them about why His way was the best way, and so that is what I did today.”

Taylor said he offered to Maynard the chance to learn about the one true God.