I just got back from sitting in on a bible study group (20 rosy-cheeked youngsters), conducted during school hours in a trailer just a couple hundred short yards from the front door of Tumalo Community School (a Redmond public school, K-8).
The Good News Club, which hosts the bible studies, is an "outreach ministry" for the world-wide organization, Child Evangelism Fellowship (whose seal states: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations").
The GN club is acting in accordance with the law, and the students can only attend these clubs with the written consent of their parents.
But the close relationship between faith-based organizations like CEF and public schools underscores the difficulty of defining the line between church and state in contemporary society as some religious groups make a renewed push into the public square.
Next week we'll take a look at where the line is drawn locally and who is in charge of making sure that it isn't crossed.
written by Dean Gertner , February 10, 2012
written by Ferd Birkel , February 15, 2012
They are as American as apple pie and the prayers of the founding fathers.
The US Supreme Court already ruled that these clubs are constitutional. Our Christian founding fathers gave us the first amendment to protect the church from the government. It protects the equal rights of Christians to rent and publicize their faith in public buildings on the same terms as other non-faith groups. That is the American way!
written by Jonell , February 20, 2012
written by terrie , March 08, 2012
