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New Zealand MPs are being asked to consider scrapping or revising Parliament's daily prayer.
Speaker Margaret Wilson wrote to all MPs on May 14 about the prayer, which opens each session in the House.
TV3 News said her letter read: "Should a prayer continue to be recited at
the commencement of each session of Parliament?
"If so, what format or what should it be like, would you like to reconsider the wording of the current one?"
Ms Wilson will report her findings to the standing order committee, which sets Parliament's rules and would ultimately decide whether the prayer should stay or go.
The issue has been before the committee for some time.
In 2003, then Progressive MP Matt Robson said he wanted the Christian prayer changed to reflect New Zealand's "diverse and multicultural" nature, or replaced with a statement.
Ms Wilson's letter comes in the same week as the three-day Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogue meeting in Waitangi, attended by "moderate" religious leaders from 15 countries.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Helen Clark said "obviously New Zealand has had tremendous influence from Christianity", but that the country has never had a "state religion".
"Today we are a very multi-faith society. The world's faiths are here."
In February, MPs approved a Draft National Statement on Religious Diversity to be read at the meeting. (Read your views)
It says the state seeks to treat all faith communities equally and that "New Zealand has no official or established religion".
The text has been criticised by some Christian leaders, with Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki - excluded from the Waitangi meeting - accusing the Clark Government of trying to "de-Christianise" New Zealand "under the radar" of public awareness.
Bishop Tamaki said New Zealand's heritage was Christian and it should stand up for its beliefs rather than promoting "diversity".
He said MPs and others involved in civic occasions should continue to swear allegiance on the Bible and the parliamentary prayer should continue to refer to "the Christian god Jesus Christ".
Christians still make up a majority of the New Zealand population - 51.2 per cent in the 2006 Census, although down from 60.8 per cent in 2001.
Parliament's daily prayer
The prayer is:
"Almighty God, humbly acknowledging our need for Thy guidance in all things, and laying aside all private and personal interests, we beseech Thee to grant that we may conduct the affairs this House and of our country to the glory of Thy holy name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the honour of the Queen, and the public welfare, peace and tranquillity of New Zealand, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
- NZHERALD STAFF / NZPA
