Scheduled prayer ends in Georgia (March 7, 2019)

Scheduled prayer has ceased at Lowndes County (Ga.) School Board meetings after persistent pressure from FFRF.

A concerned Lowndes County Schools parents first reported more than a year ago that the Lowndes County Board of Education begins all of its meetings with a scheduled prayer. FFRF stepped in to remind the district that it is beyond the scope of a school board to schedule or conduct prayer as part of its meetings.

ā€œCalling upon board members, parents, students and members of the public to pray is unconstitutional,ā€ wrote Line. ā€œIt is coercive, embarrassing and intimidating for nonreligious citizens to be required to make a public showing of their nonbelief (by not rising or praying) or else to display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe, but which their school board members clearly do.ā€

After diligent follow-up with the district, the complainant has informed FFRF that the agenda no longer shows scheduled prayer for the school board meetings.

Freedom From Religion Foundation