# Hail Satan Invocation Sparks Ottumwa Council Backlash

> Ottumwa council meeting opens with 'Hail Satan' invocation, prompting mayor to order moment of silence.
- Title: Hail Satan Invocation Sparks Ottumwa Council Backlash
- Summary: Ottumwa council meeting opens with 'Hail Satan' invocation, prompting mayor to order moment of silence. Ottumwa city council ordered a moment of silence…
- Keywords: ottumwa city council, hail satan, satanic temple, mayor benjamin foote, council member cara galloway, new life center pastor rick bick, invocation policy, moment of silence, news, politics, Hail, Satan
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/national/hail-satan-invocation-at-ottumwa-city-council-meeting-spurs-mayor-to-order-moment-of-silence
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-10-07T21:25:46+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ottumwa city council, hail satan, satanic temple, mayor benjamin foote, council member cara galloway, new life center pastor rick bick, invocation policy, moment of silence, news, politics
## Ottumwa Council Meeting
Ottumwa City Council held its regular meeting on October 6, 2026, at City Hall.
## Hail Satan Invocation
Resident Matt Dalbey delivered an invocation ending with 'Hail Satan' before the Pledge of Allegiance.

> It is done. Hail Satan.
## Pastor's Response
New Life Center pastor Rick Bick called the invocation a curse and demanded immediate action to reverse it.

> Let's just reverse this curse that was put on our city.
## Council Member's Objection
Council member Cara Galloway objected to addressing the matter outside the public-comment period and urged the council to proceed with its agenda.

> Opening with an invocation means allowing viewpoints that may not reflect our own.
## Mayor's Reaction
Mayor Benjamin Foote called for a 30-second time of prayer, which he quickly reframed as a time of silence.

> to reflect on whatever it is we need to reflect on at this time
## Policy Background
The council adopted Resolution 18-2026 on January 20, 2026, allowing residents to volunteer for up to two-minute invocations.

> The policy allows any Ottumwa resident to volunteer for an invocation of no more than two minutes
## Public Reaction
City officials reported receiving calls throughout the day, with some cordial and many rude and full of profanities.

> some calls have been cordial, while many have been rude and full of profanities
## Key takeaway

Ottumwa city council ordered a moment of silence after a member invoked 'Hail Satan' at the meeting, sparking backlash from a local pastor.