ICC Note: Following a complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), a youth minister has been banned from meeting with students at an Illinois high school during the school day, including the lunch hour. Although the students had already been required to obtain signed permission slips, the FFRF still claimed that the practice was unconstitutional. After several months and a secondary letter of complaint, the school district officially made the decision to ban the minister from meeting with students during school hours.

By Heather Clark

08/31/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – A Baptist youth minister is no longer allowed to reach students at an Illinois high school after a professing atheist organization lodged a complaint, asserting that his presence violated the U.S. Constitution.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) had sent a letter to the Harrisburg School District this past February after an unidentified community member advised the group that the minister was leading a Christian club of sorts during the lunch period at Harrisburg Middle School.

Students had been sent home with permission slips to occasionally meet with the Baptist leader during lunch breaks, who also provided students with pizza and soda.

But FFRF told the district that the concept was “predatory” and urged officials to ban the youth minister from the premises.

“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders access to befriend and proselytize students during the school day on school property,” the letter, written by attorney Ryan Jayne, read. “This predatory conduct is inappropriate and should raise many red flags.”

“The district cannot allow its schools to be used as recruiting grounds for churches during the school day,” it stated.

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