A metro area Jewish group criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt for his participation in a recently televised prayer service.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City, led by executive director Roberta Clark, said “Let Hope Arise: Together in Prayer for Oklahoma” televised on Thursday “excluded many Oklahomans.”

Though Stitt called for Oklahomans of all faiths and religious backgrounds to pray for the state as it faced the COVID-19 outbreak, the hourlong service hosted by Transformation Church in Tulsa was a markedly Christian effort, with several Christian pastors from across the state offering prayers and commentary. Stitt and his wife, Sarah, also shared words, with the latter offering a prayer for the state as it grapples with the coronavirus crisis.

“While government officials should not promote religion at all, when they choose to do so in spite of constitutional concerns, they should at least attempt to be inclusive and invite entire communities. When striving to respect people of all faiths and no faiths, community leaders need to ensure the language does not exclude members of our community,” the Jewish Federation said Friday in a news release.

“Presenting prayers only in the name of a particular religious tradition’s deity immediately excludes persons who do not identify with a religious tradition or those who identify with a religious tradition that cannot pray in the name of another religious tradition.”

Stitt issued a proclamation declaring Thursday a “Statewide Day of Prayer” for all Oklahomans affected by COVID-19 and his office said the televised prayer service was being held in conjunction with the prayer day. The prayer event was televised Thursday by several Oklahoma broadcast news outlets and streamed online, as well.

In response to the Jewish Federation’s criticism, Charlie Hannema, the governor’s spokesman, gave the following statement:

“Governor Stitt, as noted in his proclamation declaring Thursday a statewide day of prayer, encourages Oklahomans of all faiths and religious backgrounds to pray as our state faces the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hannema said.

“Last night’s service was a result of grassroots efforts on the part of faith leaders that heard the governor’s call for a statewide day of prayer and joined together to host and produce an inspiring event.”

The Jewish Federation said Stitt’s office should have done more to make sure the prayer event represented many faith traditions, not just one.

“We have no reason to believe that Governor Stitt’s ‘Let Hope Arise’ intended to exclude the multitude of faith traditions in our state, but we do believe his office should have worked to ensure the program could be one that would have been welcoming to Oklahomans of all faith traditions,” the Jewish Federation said in its statement.

“At a time when our State and Nation need to be united, yesterday’s ‘Let Hope Arise’ did the exact opposite by ‘uninviting’ anyone who does not share very particular religious beliefs. We hope that our State Government will choose to lead in inclusiveness to best represent the Oklahoma Standard.”Meanwhile, leaders with the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma said “to bring many faiths of Oklahoma together to pray for Oklahoma and the world.”

“As we come together from our diverse backgrounds representing the many faith communities of Oklahoma in solidarity, bringing hope through prayer and action, we are asking you to be a part of this event. As part of the prayer response to the COVID-19 crisis, we are practicing physical distancing, but at the same time bringing the many faiths of Oklahoma together for a Facebook Live event,” the organization’s leaders said in an email.

In February, nonprofit called Oklahoma Capitol Culture hosted the Oklahoma Governor’s Prayer Breakfast that included a video showing people of different faith traditions, including Judaism and Islam, as they briefly emphasized the importance of prayer in their lives. Several Jewish and Muslims leaders also attended the event held at the National Cowboy Hall & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.