Christian Athletic Ministry Sues New Jersey School District Over Ban on Outside Mentors
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes filed a federal lawsuit on August 13 against the Hopewell Valley Regional School District in New Jersey, along with its superintendent and state education officials, over a policy barring outside adults from leading, attending, or regularly participating in student religious club meetings. The district adopted the policy shortly after the Freedom From Religion Foundation contacted it in March demanding it stop allowing outside adults at religious clubs. FCA chapters at Hopewell Valley Central High School and Timberlane Middle School had hosted fellowship staff and other adult volunteers for years before the change.
The lawsuit, filed by the religious liberty law firm Becket, argues the policy singles out religious clubs since the district still allows outside mentors and guest speakers for secular student organizations such as the Robotics Club. Becket senior counsel Joseph Davis said an advocacy group objected to Christian students learning about faith from trusted mentors, and the district changed its policy in response. The lawsuit asks the court to restore FCA volunteers' access to the clubs while the case proceeds.
