Georgia

FFRF worked to ensure that a “character coach” from the Heart of Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes would no longer be allowed to proselytize student-athletes in the Johnson County School District in Wrightsville, Ga.

FFRF was informed that an adult “character coach” was allowed to preach and pray with students in the district’s soccer program. The character coach was acting as a de facto chaplain, and had been allowed to spread Christian messages to students while having special access to the team’s locker rooms, training and games.

“It is beyond the scope of a public school system to institute a position which conflates character and religiosity, and which will inevitably involve advocating Christianity to students,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to District Superintendent Christopher Watkins.

Watkins detailed actions the district had taken in a letter to Line a week later. The letter had been shared with the athletic director, the school principal, and the coach to inform them of the violations committed. The coach then contacted the coordinator from the Heart of Georgia FCA, serving the connection between the organization and the school. “I have also communicated to our district employees that we must adhere to the provision of the Equal Access Act and not allow ‘nonschool persons’ to ‘lead, organize, or regularly participate in student religion clubs.’”