Church group says they were questioned about presence at Lincoln County Schools campuses
LINCOLNTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Lincoln County Schools is responding to a social media post from a Christian group after a meeting regarding the its presence at schools.
In a post this week, the United for Christ group posted an image in letter form, detailing interactions with Lincoln County Schools district officials. In the letter, the group said they were approached by staff and told that the club meeting before the school day may be in “violation of federal law.”
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“In the meeting, we were informed that United for Christ would no longer be allowed to meet weekly as usual and that moving forward, UFC was now being restricted to meeting once per month,” the statement reads.
The group, based out of Victory Baptist Church in Denver, went on to say they were “directly informed that if United for Christ did not agree to the terms of meeting monthly, we would no longer meet at all.”
Lincoln County Schools, in their own statement, refuted what was claimed by the group.
“No one at the meeting stated or implied that United for Christ was violating the law,” the district said in a statement. “During the meeting, LCS and United for Christ discussed the structure of the programming and potential options that will ensure LCS remains compliant with the law. However, no decisions or ultimatums were made by LCS.”
United for Christ meets at four schools in the district, including a middle school.
In its statement, the group denies violating the law, however, saying its attorneys said they were in the clear.
“In response to the statement made that United For Christ ‘May be in violation of the law,’ our organization sought legal advice from several different attorneys to ensure that as an organization we abide by the law, as well as protect the religious liberties of the students in Lincoln County and beyond.”
In regards to the specific conduct in question by the group, a parent told Queen City News that UFC involved representatives from the church going into schools.
According to state and federal law, religious expression in schools must be student-led, student-run, and student-initiated. The U.S. Department of Education updated guidance for prayer in schools, additionally saying that “teachers, school administrators, and other school employees may not encourage or discourage private prayer or other religious activity.”
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Duston Barto, a Lincoln County parent who is also a Muslim, said he is aware of the laws, as he started a religious club when he was high school.
“The whole point is to preserve religious liberty,” said Barto. “We have to make sure they are student-led and student-initiated and student-run organizations and make sure they’re not an outside group evangelizing and proselytizing to kids at an impressionable age.”
When asked by Queen City News about the specific claims made by United for Christ in regards to the club’s meetings now being one per month, a district spokesperson noted it was suggested to the group, but reiterated no decision had been made.
United for Christ said they have another meeting set for later this month with Lincoln County Schools and said they hope to come to a resolution.
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