by Jorge Gomez • 2 minutes
This week, First Liberty sent a letter to the Smith County Board of Education in Tennessee informing the Board of two students’ rights to start faith-based sports clubs at their schools.
We’re representing Josh Gibbs and his middle- and elementary-age sons. Like many parents across America, Josh is a person of faith who wants his children to be surrounded by a Christian community while at school.
Last year, Josh’s older son participated and enjoyed attending meetings through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where classmates gather to pray, share stories and listen to a devotional from a member of the community.
This year, Josh’s sons wanted to start and lead similar clubs. They began looking at first steps on how to apply.
But so far, the school district has told both students “No.”
Officials claim “there is a lot of grey area in the law concerning student-led religious clubs” and they’re making sure they meticulously follow all state and federal laws. The district has put their efforts on hold and is dragging its feet in responding to the students’ requests.
“We appreciate the Smith County School System’s commitment to following the law,” said Holly M. Randall, Counsel for First Liberty. “Our goal is to clarify that the United States Constitution, federal law, the Tennessee Constitution, and Tennessee state law all protect the rights of students to express their faith through religious student clubs.”
In our letter, our attorneys remind the school district it cannot exclude faith-based clubs if it allows other clubs to meet. U.S. Supreme Court precedent has made that clear multiple times.
In Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Court set a major precedent protecting the right of employees and students to live out their faith in public schools, which includes expressing their religious beliefs through voluntary clubs.
What’s more, in Good News Club v. Milford Central School, the nation’s highest court held that schools must grant religious clubs the same access as any other non-curricular club.
With legal precedents and laws affirming the religious liberty of students, it makes no sense that many are still being forced to fight to express their beliefs.
We’re urging the school district to do what’s right. It’s a simple request: approve Josh’s sons request to form their club without any further delay. Allow the two students to get together with their peers to pray and encourage one another, the same as any other students who want to start a club.
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