Cr John Stuchbery has placed a notice of motion on the agenda of Monday night’s council meeting requesting a change to the code of meeting practice.

He said he was strongly opposed to the line in the prayer “protect us from evil” and it should be removed.

“Albury Council is an organisation dedicated to providing for the residents of Albury and surrounds water, sewage, garbage collection, decent streets, decent amenity, some childcare, nice parklands and sporting facilities, and the like,” he said.

“Albury Council and its councillors are not here to ‘protect us from evil’.”

The prayer, which was updated two decades ago, is read out by the mayor before council meetings along with an acknowledgment of original custodians of local lands.

But the move has drawn opposition ahead of the meeting from Cr Darren Cameron, who said it was unnecessary and potentially dangerous with the same-sex marriage vote under way.

“There are more important things to discuss,” he said.

“There is no clamour or desire from the people of Albury to make this change and I’m not aware of one person in Albury who has asked for this to happen.

“Being elected to council doesn’t make the city of Albury a personal play thing.

“Emotions are running high in the community at the moment with the same-sex marriage debate and this is the wrong time to be discussing changes like this.”

Cr Cameron said according to latest Census data a majority of Albury residents identified as Christians.

But Cr Stuchbery dismissed his colleagues concerns.

“Not every councillor is religious, not every resident is religious,” he said.

“This has nothing to do with the marriage equality debate.”

Cr David Thurley flagged changes to the traditional opening prayer and acknowledgment of original custodians of local lands in the lead-up to last year’s election, but couldn’t muster sufficient support at the time.