ADF AND CLS COMMENCE JOINT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LITIGATION PROJECTS
On August 26, 2004, the Christian Legal Society and the Alliance Defense Fund announced the commencement of four joint litigation projects. The projects are designed to protect the religious liberty of college students, pro-life health care providers, faith-based social service providers, and Christian schools.
Please see the ADF-CLS press release for more information regarding the joint litigation projects.
CENTER SECURES CHURCH’S RIGHT TO MEET IN FLORIDACOMMUNITY CENTER
On August 16, 2004, CLS’s Center for Law & Religious Freedom secured the right of a Florida church to continue holding worship services in a county community center.
Pastor Rob Phillips leads a small group of Christian believers in Gilchrist County, Florida. Gilchrist County offers its public community center for rent to a range of community organizations, and Pastor Phillips’ church rented the center for its worship services.
This summer a neighbor complained that the county violated the “separation of church and state” by allowing the church to rent the community center. The county told the pastor it would decide at the next county commission meeting whether or not it would continue to allow the church to meet in the county facility.
Pastor Phillips contacted the Center, and Center Chief Litigation Counsel Steve Aden sent an opinion letter to Pastor Phillips outlining the church’s First Amendment right to rent the space.
Pastor Phillips presented the Center’s letter to the county commission on August 16, and based on the letter, the commission affirmed that the church has the right to continue meeting in the county community center.
EIGHTH CIRCUIT PERMITS TEACHER TO LEAD GOOD NEWS CLUB
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled on September 3, 2004 that a public school teacher may participate in an after school bible club in the school in which she teaches.
Barbara Wigg is a public school teacher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She sought to teach an after school “Good News Club” sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship. The club met in the elementary school in which she taught. The school district refused to allow Mrs. Wigg to participate in the club, claiming her participation would violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Liberty Counsel filed suit against the school district in July 2003. The lower federal court ruled that the teacher could not participate in a Good News Club held in the school in which she taught. The lower court also concluded, however, that she was permitted to teach at a bible club in any other school in the district.
Liberty Counsel appealed. On September 3, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the teacher had a constitutional right to participate in a Good News Club immediately after school hours in the school in which she teaches.
