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Fla. school district agrees to end discriminatory treatment of Christian club
06/02/09 - 09:32 AM

Alliance Defense Fund

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School district officials had denied Fellowship of Christian Athletes equal access to facilities, benefits available to other student groups

JAY, Fla. — Officials at Santa Rosa County School District, who previously barred a Christian-based club from meeting at Jay High School, have reversed course after receiving a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund.  Additionally, teachers at the school are now permitted to participate in private baccalaureate services.  ADF attorneys had sent a separate letter to the district over that matter.

“Christian student groups shouldn’t be discriminated against for their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.  “Further, it is unconstitutional to prohibit school district employees from attending a private religious service on their own time and in their individual capacities.  The district did the right thing by reversing its decision and deciding to respect the rights of students and employees.”

Following a lawsuit filed against the school district last year by the American Civil Liberties Union, Santa Rosa officials agreed to a consent order that resulted in broad restrictions on religious-based activities.

Santa Rosa officials relied on the consent order to justify their decision to shut down a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club, barring its members from accessing benefits and privileges available to other student groups and telling teachers that they could not participate in private baccalaureate services.  The sponsor of the services, a local ministerial association, rented school property for the event in accordance with district policy.

School district officials reversed course on both matters after receiving letters from ADF attorneys noting that their actions were unnecessary and unconstitutional.

Letter sent to Santa Rosa County School District regarding Fellowship of Christian Athletes club
Letter sent to Santa Rosa County School District regarding district employees’ participation in a private baccalaureate service

ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith.  Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.

www.telladf.org