HELP: I Want to Take Down the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

[Corey_Baker08]

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a "student lead" organization in my High School. If You are not familiar with the FCA here is an excerpt from their offical website.



The FCA Vision
To see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches.

The FCA Mission
To present to athletes and coaches and all whom they influence the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.

The FCA Values
Our relationships will demonstrate steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word through Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence

www.fca.org

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I have a very big problem with this group being in my school. I am a Freshman in High School. I have been told that as long as this is student lead organization than it does not violate any rules. Well, the meetings are held on school grounds, the supplies they use are tax payer funded school supplies. I am sure there are many more violations. What gets me the most is that last year the entire Student body was forced to go to a pep rally in the Gymnasium and listen to them preach the word of god.

This has got to end now. I go back to school August 16 and I am ready for action. As President of the Class of 2008 I told my fellow students I would stand up for what I believed in, and this is something I definately believe in.

I need your help, thoughts, suggestions on where in the hell I should start. I want to look further than the case of "theres a time and a place for religion and school isnt one of them" I want legal arguements, I know that in my school there are people that feel disenfranchised with this group.

Do I have a case or since it is a student lead org is it allowed? I believe that if it is Student lead than it should be student lead somewhere else than taxpayer funded school supplies,the electricity, the gas and anything else they use for their meetings, it should be banned from the school period.

What Should I Do? I Dont go back to school until August but I would like to start early. How, write a letter to the Superintendent? Collect signatures and send them to the super intendent. What are the basics to fighting the school board, and do I have a case?

[R. A. Fuqua]

1. I think you need advice from a legal

expert (there are definitely some legal eagles around here).

Where I went to school (Canada--so this is not very useful to you) almost any kind of organization was "legal" as long as they did not discriminate in their membership--i.e. they allowed anyone to join. So--theoretically this group would have been OK--as long as they did not discriminate against an atheist or agnostic would wanted to join. There were rules about fund raising, how meetings had to be advertised and held and stuff like that--but it was all pretty basic and equally applied to all groups on campus. As long as a group was open to everyone and receptive all points of view (opposing too!!!)--then we allowed almost any group to do their thing. (I think this is quite democratic)

[newswolf56]

2. Contact the ACLU in your state so that...

...you have all your tactical and strategic ducks in the proverbial row BEFORE you act. I'm not a lawyer, but it sounds (on the basis of what you posted) as if you have a legitimate church/state issue. Don't know about your locale, but when I was in high school, a "lead" organization essentially spoke for the school authorities. Which -- if true where you are -- would be like appointing the Pope as president of the United States: in other words, not just a no-no, but a very big no-no. However, contact ACLU. Let their word be final, and let their tactical and strategic guidance be your own. Good luck!

[beam me up scottie]

3. Maybe you could

start here:

http://www.theroc.org/report/in.htm

[Citizen Jane]

4. Good luck!

In my past experience as both a student and a highschool teacher, FCA seems pretty pervasive at the HS level because of the peer pressure (popular athletes and desire to be "in").

I don't know the law, but you could try contacting your local ACLU members.

A kind word of advice, be sure to have someone proofread your letters to officials as well as using the spell checker in your word processing program. You've got some typos above and typos tend to allow "officials" to disregard you when they are reading what you have to say. (For example, the past tense of the verb "to lead" is "led"--a mistake which, sadly, my university students make all the time so you are in good company!).

In any case, I wish you well with your quest!

[ReaderSushi]

5. Hmmm.

Being forced to go to one of their religious rallies is certainly an issue;first thing you should do is try to talk to the club advisor and officers about it. Don't threaten them by saying you will file a complaint. Just make it clear how you and possibly others feel about the situation and try to reach a compromise. As long as no one is forced to attend against their will, there is no reason the FCA can't have their own meetings.

If they don't make any changes and students are forced to attend yet another of the religious rallies, then you file a formal complaint.

Try tobe patient with them and give them some time to makethe appropriate changes. Don't ask them to meet off school property though: It's their school too.

Do you have a case? Too subjective to say. That's always been the problem in such situations.

Good luck with your dilema.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. I agree

I agree. I remember in high school this group was around. We never had anything though except they had meetings and things like that on campus. None of us ever had to go to any events unless we wanted to (including talent shows and pep rally's). But I would also try the local ACLU or a lawyer and see what you can do. Maybe make a deal or something.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. The courts have ruled that schools have to give equal access to student-

led organizations, but requiring the entire student body to listen to the FCA members preach seems to go beyond what is permissible.

The FCA has existed for a long time, and they were active at the Lutheran college I attended thirty years ago. However, everyone who wasn't in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes thought they were a big joke, because when they weren't praying ostentatiously, they were partying hardy and trying to get into the pants of any and every woman at said parties.

[JVS]

10. That group sounds awesome!

They have truly grasped the meaning of simul justus et peccator.

I think if Christians were to embrace partying hardy, they'd have a more positive impact in society.

[Corey_Baker08]

11. Are Are Way Different From Yours Then

Ours preach politics and ways of life. They spread the word of Jesus Christ, they can recite every line of the bible, they are conservative idiots.

[okieinpain]

7. maybe you could leave them alone. my son attended fca and it

was okay. and I'm far from christian.

[snowbear]

8. I agree.. find out if it's legal first ;o)

If it were me.. :think: ...Well, if it were me, I doubt I'd be concerned about them unless I knew for sure it (a) violated school regulations, (b) had political undertones, and (c) wasn't legal.

Do they allow any religion or group to form fellowships?

Not related to religion.. but to politics.. I was visiting a friend who works at one our local highschools recently, and I saw posters all over the place advertising the upcoming "Young Democrats" meeting.

That's political, not religious.. but maybe it's the same deal?

Anyway ~~ when you find out.. let us know! :)

[Corey_Baker08]

9. So From Reading These Post It Would Seem this is.......

A broader more National issue of Church and State, and more than likely I have no case.

I dont have a problem with them because they're Christians. I am actually a Christian, well in family. I have a problem with them spreading the word of Christ in our School. Its ridiculous, and it just makes me so mad thinking about it.

I was actually invited to join them and gladly turned them down. It is like the most legal form of discrimination in our school system.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Maybe you

can get a petition together with people you know who don't like them and since you're the president of your class you can go to the principle about it and try to change things.

[carpetbagger]

17. You have some power to hold them in check.

The school may (and I say may because I'm only aware of student fee/constitutionality issues decided on a collegiate level) have an obligation of nondiscrimination against sectarian organizations. However, they have no business sponsoring, endorsing, and especially compelling attendence at such activities. They also have a legal obligation to ensure that the organization is not used to create a hostile environment for those who do not share their religious views, although this would typically involve either teacher participation in prosetylization or violence, threatening behavior, or true harassment on the part of the students acting within what can be construed as organized FCA activity.

Indiana has chapters of both the ACLU as well as Americans United for Separation of Church and State, here...

http://www.auindy.org/
www.iclu.org/

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[FreedomAngel82]

15. I agree with going to the principle

I think if there is a problem and it's other people who have a problem you can start a petition and go to the principle and discuss about it. It might be the best way to go at first and see.

[noonwitch]

29. It's principal, not principle

As they said at my school, it's not principal without "pal". Considering what a creep my elementary school principal was, it was kind of a joke.

[Name removed]

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[beam me up scottie]

19. Screw people like that.

DU has its share just like anywhere else.
Unfortunately we all pay a price for free speech.

[Matariki]

21. Amen Corey Baker!

I'd be pissed as hell if i was forced to sit through a christian pep rally. i wouldn't try to reason with any of them. i'd head STRAIGHT to the press and the ACLU. I'd start a petition in school and maybe a collection for a legal fund.

Go get 'em.

[Name removed]

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[Vektor]

20. Totally uncalled for

and exceptionally rude. If you disagreed with something the OP said, you could have reasonably explained why without resorting to insulting behavior. What the hell was that all about?

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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[sendero]

36. Whoever wrote...

... "see the world impacted for Jesus Christ" might not be big but they definitely are lacking in basic English language skills.

[Matariki]

22. i just want to say...

i'd be right there supporting christian student's rights to have a school club just the same as GLBT students, or Wiccan student or whatever. It doesn't seem particularly fair to single them out over their use of school resources, unless it's preferential.

But can't people get it through their fat heads that forcing students to sit through religious propaganda is wrong, wrong, wrong. These same people would explode if some Wiccan or Muslim or Gay student group had a mandatory pep rally.

[Corey_Baker08]

23. I Agree

Why was the session going on during school hours to promote religous propaganda. Thats what i am concerned about, when will it end and how far will this go?

The event was officated by the staff and sponsored by the staff there has got to be a line drawn here. Students were directed down to the gym for the event, it was not during lunch or optional, it was mandatory.

[beam me up scottie]

24. You're right to speak out.

We fought a similar battle in boot camp, except we were punished for objecting.
Another recruit had a father that contacted the ACLU.
The coercion stopped immediately.
Good luck.

[theoldgeezer]

25. That's one big chip you're carrying...

Lighten up already. Have a little tolerance, and while you're at it, why don't you find out why the entire school has to attend pep rallies? I'd be angry, if my kids had to attend stuff not part of school.

[Clark2008]

26. You don't have a case against the organization.

You can complain to the principal and the school board about being forced to go to a pep rally to listen to the word of God, but the other stuff is covered.
It is a student-led organization. And schools, after hours, can be loaned out to any community group, religious or otherwise.
My advise is to find something more constructive to do with your time. Students have been led into doing all sorts of things via peer pressure for years and you'll only make yourself a pariah if you go after something like this.
Why don't you start a young Democrats club or a club for the separation of church and state, instead?
I don't agree with banning anything. My ONLY issue is that students were forced to go to the pep rally during school hours - that's a no-no. But, in-so-far as the group meets after school - whoopee - the local botany group might also meet there after hours for all we know and they use the electricity and gas, too. There's no since in wasting a taxpayer-paid-for building - let it be used as a meeting place for tons of groups when it's not in use for school.

[JohnnyBoots]

27. They ran the old high school I used to teach at in WV

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. Ask for advice on how to tell the principal

that you will not be attending any seromons on school grounds.

http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aboutau

[GeorgeBushytail]

31. Anyone know of any Atheist student org?

Has any kid had the guts to set one up anywhere in the US?

[ArkDem]

32. You could do something important instead.

[GeorgeBushytail]

33. Yea, be a good little boy and don't make waves

Shut up and go to the mandatory Xtian brainwashing school assemblies.

Who are you to question the theocrats, little boy?

[beam me up scottie]

35. Isn't it funny how

the kid's dislike of proselytizing in school makes certain people defensive on DU ?

I guess it must mean they're okay with the Talibornagain takeover of amerikkka, since they usually start brainwashing the kids first.

[ArkDem]

37. Why not concentrate your actions on something that will

make a difference. I believe the way John Lennon put it was

"If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow"!

[BlackVelvet04]

34. This is very simple

really. The group has the right to exist within the boundaries of the law and rules of the school system; HOWEVER, the school does not have the right to force a student to attend a religious rally. Call the ACLU.

I called the ACLU back in the 70's because our high school imposed a dress code that the supreme court of my state had declared unconstitutional. One meeting with an ACLU lawyer changed the school boards mind. :-)

[ArkDem]

38. The school board has a mind?