Indiana
The Metropolitan School District of Wabash County in Wabash, Ind., learned not to include prayer in mandatory staff meetings after FFRF took action to protect non-Christian district community members.
A district employee reported that Superintendent Mike Keaffaber began mandatory staff meetings with a Christian prayer, delivered by him, while acting in his official capacity. FFRF also learned that at one staff training, a Christian motivational speaker who uses religion to inspire salespeople was invited to speak to staff. FFRF’s complainant reported that the speech felt like a “preacher giving a sermon” rather than someone giving a professional presentation, as the speech included his religious beliefs all throughout the speech. Additionally, the speaker distributed a book he had written, and the superintendent encouraged staff members to read it. The book contained several religious passages relating to the speaker’s belief in God.
“Requiring employees who are nonreligious or members of minority religions to make a public showing of being non-Christian by not participating in a prayer or sermon or else display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe is coercive, embarrassing, and intimidating,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the superintendent.
After FFRF sent the letter, the district reached out to Downs, Tandy & Petruniw, PC, who responded on behalf of the district. “You requested that we refrain from including prayer or religious speakers at future staff meetings,” M. Josh Petruniw wrote. “We have no plans to include prayer or religious speakers at future staff meetings.”
