Providence will allow child evangelism clubs in schools in new agreement. What that means.

PROVIDENCE – Providence public schools have agreed to provide access to a Christian evangelist group trying to establish Good News Clubs as after-school programming in the district.

The Providence Public School District on Tuesday reached a consent agreement providing Child Evangelism Fellowship equal access to its facilities as similarly situated nonreligious organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girls on the Run.

Good News Clubs are described as character-building after-school programs that promise students biblical storytelling, games, songs and life lessons.

The agreement, approved Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, permanently bars the district from denying Child Evangelism Fellowship equal access to its facilities. The district, meanwhile, did not concede all of the fellowship’s allegations and disputed some of the claims.

Christian Evangelism Fellowship of RI alleges rights were violated

The Child Evangelism Fellowship of Rhode Island sued the Providence Public School District and Superintendent Javier Montañez in March, alleging that hostility toward the group’s religious message spurred the district to deny elementary- and middle-school students access to “free, positive and character-building” Good News Clubs. The group argued that its free speech and equal-protections rights were are being violated by the district over the two years it said it had been denied access.

McElroy ordered the parties to meet to resolve the dispute at a hearing last week in which she said she was leaning toward granting the group’s request for a preliminary injunction.

The consent agreement settles the matter without further litigation, though the fellowship can seek legal fees.

More: Evangelical group says PPSD won't let it start a 'Good News Club.' Now it's suing.

Good News Clubs in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, about 90 students participate in elementary- and middle-school clubs in Coventry, Cranston and Chariho districts, with more than 4,800 clubs nationwide, according to Mathew Staver, a lawyer for Orlando-based Liberty Counsel.

According to the lawsuit, Good News Clubs typically are led by volunteer teachers once a week without regard for students' religious beliefs, as long as they have their parents' permission.

The Child Evangelism Fellowship of Rhode Island’s website identifies teachers as “Concerned Christians who want to share the love of God and the message of Jesus Christ [who] work together volunteering their time and energy to prepare and train to teach children in Good News Clubs.”

Providence schools allowed a Good News Club at William D’Abate Elementary School for the 2019-2020 school year. Leaders say 48 children signed up, but the program could accommodate only 20 due to space. The program was canceled for COVID pandemic shutdowns.

The Liberty Counsel stated that when the fellowship asked to resume the clubs following the pandemic and launch a new club at Leviton Elementary School, the district failed to respond.

'The goal is to get them when they're young'

Rebecca S. Markert, legal director for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told The Journal that Good News Clubs are allowed to meet on school property as long as they follow school guidelines. She cautioned that schools must establish a bright line distinguishing when the school day ends and the clubs begin, a prospect that can become murky if teachers also oversee the clubs.

“Those lines get very blurry," said Markert, who earned a law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law.

Some club events are promoted as pizza or cupcake parties, making them very alluring to young children in particular, she said.

“The goal is to get them when they're young so they can start proselytizing," Markert said. "The clubs are permitted as long as parameters are followed, and those parameters get pretty squishy when you’re dealing with elementary students."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Public Schools will allow Christian Good News Clubs in schools