(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina chapter of the ACLU wants the state's General Assembly to refrain from opening its sessions with prayers. The group says the prayers favor Christianity, but House Majority Leader Paul Stam says the complaint is inaccurate.

"We just have volunteers," says Stam. "Either the 120 members or any member of the staff. If they want to volunteer to pray, they can pray. Nobody tells them what to say or what not to say. I have never yet heard an religion disbaraged."

ACLU State Chapter Legal Director Katy Parker says the decision on Joyner vs. Forsyth County prompted the ACLU to send a letter to Attorney General Roy Cooper, outlining concerns about the use of sectarian prayers to open meetings at the Legislature.

The civil liberties group cited the recent decision by the Supreme Court not to hear an appeal of the Forsyth County Commissioners case, as an example of how the federal courts have repeatedly found such prayers unconstitutional.