An atheist will deliver the prayer before this week's Tulsa City Council meeting.

Critics have petitioned the city for years to halt the prayers, but atheist Dan Nerren said his invocation will only encourage council members to respect the dignity and worth of each person.

"I'm not calling it a prayer," Nerren said. "I'm calling it an invocation and I'm not invocating a deity. I'm invocating the city council."

City leaders say they have no problem with an atheist giving the opening prayer.

As a Catholic, I'm not terrified of an atheist giving an invocation," City Council Chairman G.T. Bynum said. "There are things of value you can learn from any religious perspective."