Eighth grade students in a New York state public school district were allegedly initially denied the right to form an official Bible club despite meeting the school's requirements. Afterward with the lawyer First Liberty Institute (FLI) got involved, and the school notified Fox News Digital that it will officially establish the club next week.
Waterville Junior/Senior The high school, part of the Waterville Central School District in central New York, previously told Elijah Nelson that it “cannot have a school-sponsored club that is religiously affiliated,” and that it “officially ” He said he had no intention of acknowledging or “funding.” You “sponsor” a Bible club just like any other club.
For the past two years, Nelson has asked the school district if he could start a Bible club to connect with classmates who share his faith. The school initially denied his request, but school leaders later announced that the club could meet informally during lunch. Staff supervised the students. The school also gave Nelson the option to apply as an outside organization, allowing him to use the school's facilities during off-hours.
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However, in a statement to Fox News Digital, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Spring said Thursday that the Waterville Central School District plans to formally establish a Bible study club at next week's school board meeting. She said the instructions given to Nelson were “inaccurate”.
Eighth grade students in a public school district in New York made headlines for their efforts in forming a Bible club. (Godon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“We strive to provide all students with opportunities to learn, grow and build connections through a variety of activities, including student-run clubs,” she said. “In January 2024, inaccurate information was shared with students regarding whether they could officially form a Bible study club, and an alternative was proposed to the group. Interest grew, and the students began meeting weekly in a Bible study club.''They have continued with the library ever since. ”
“In accordance with district policy, the Board of Education, by resolution, will formally establish the Bible Study Club during its December 10th meeting,” she told FOX News Digital. “We appreciate the patience of our students and their families during this process.”
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The school said in its initial denial that officially recognizing the club would amount to an unconstitutional “endorsement” of religion, but FLI said C. Kevin of the Jones Day law firm With Mr. Marshall and Mr. Michael Bradley, sent a letter They argued on Nelson's behalf to district officials that denying Nelson's request was a violation of his civil rights and First Amendment freedoms. This is according to a recorded call cited in the company's letter.
The school, which is part of New York's Waterville Central School District, previously told Elijah Nelson he could not have a religiously affiliated school-sponsored club, but the district appears to have reversed course. (St. Petersburg)
The lawyers said in the letter that denying Elijah's request because it cannot “support a particular religion” is “anachronistic and misguided,” even though support was once a feature of the Establishment Clause. , it added, is a First Amendment provision. The U.S. Constitution, which forbids the government from establishing a religion, no longer does so. Currently, the Establishment Clause “requires only that secondary schools operate with 'neutrality' between religious and secular groups.”
“Today, the Establishment Clause does not require, and has never allowed, the government to discriminate against religious observers or organizations in awarding benefits,” the letter said.
Elijah's father, the Rev. Daniel Nelson, told Fox News Digital that he doesn't understand why the school would treat religious children differently than other students.
“Schools could be more tolerant and welcoming of students who simply want to come together to read the Bible and pray,” he said before the apparent reversal.
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Close-up of a religious cross on a page of the Bible with the Constitution in the background. (Jobelanger)
Keisha Russell, a senior adviser at First Liberty, initially told Fox News Digital that “it is wrong and illegal for schools to shun Bible clubs while promoting other clubs.”
After the school district announced the club, Russell said, “I haven't heard directly from the school district, but I'm hoping for the right response.''
