A tradition of opening Town Council meetings with an invocation by a Christian minister or occasional Jewish rabbi has changed.

Pastor David Felten of The Fountains United Methodist Church said Mayor Ginny Dickey asked him to make the speakers more inclusive for 2019.

The result, said Felten, is that the speakers will reflect the diversity of faith traditions in town.

Muslim, Baha’i and Latter Day Saints representatives have been added to the Christian denomination representatives.

The tentative list of invocators in March and beyond includes:

March 19: Pastor Rod Warembourg, Desert Creek Fellowship; April 2, Pastor David Felten, The Fountains United Methodist Church; April 16, Pastor Todd Forrest; May 2, Dean Hosni, Islamic Speakers Bureau, and May 21, Pastor Adele Resmer, New Journey Lutheran Church.

June 18, Pastor Trent Renner, Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills; Aug. 13, Pastor Clayton Wilfer of Joy Fellowship; Sept. 3, Naomi Lerman, Beth Hagivot Chavurah, and Sept. 17, Deacon Phil LoCasio, Church of the Ascension.

Oct. 1, Pastor Jeff Teeples, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church; Oct. 15, Pastor Rick Ponzo, Calvary Church; Nov. 5, Jerry Rutkowski, Baha’i Community; Nov. 29, Rev. Cathy Northrup, Verde Community Church, and Dec. 17, Brad Ough, Church of the Latter Day Saints.

The year started with Pastor Bobby Brewer of North Chapel; Pastor Tony Pierce, First Baptist Church of Fountain Hills’ John Nichols, Harvest Bible Church, and Pastor Bill Good of Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church delivering the innovations.