Clay County District Schools in Green Cove Springs, Fla., has taken action to end proselytization from a religious “character coach” after FFRF got involved.
FFRF received a report that the district’s high schools were permitting an outside adult — specifically, the head pastor at the First Baptist Church of Orange Park and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) “character coach” — to inappropriately participate in the district’s school-sponsored high school athletics program. This was confirmed thanks to a post from the pastor’s official X account, reading, “I love being able to serve as the character coach for our local high school sports teams. Able to provide copies of the Athlete’s Bible from the FCA for student-athletes who desire one (absolutely no pressure for athletes to take one.)”
FFRF Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent David Broskie with FFRF’s concerns. Broskie replied to FFRF in early July. “The district has taken your correspondence into consideration and has done a thorough investigation into the allegation involving [the pastor] and his involvement with student athletics and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes,” Broskie wrote in an email. “The district has met with both [the pastor] and the principal to ensure that all [school codes ] are followed with fidelity.”
