FFRF stops Texas school’s promotion of prayer (September 2023)

Due to the FFRF’s efforts, Burnet Consolidated ISD will no longer promote a prayer marathon before the start of the fall semester.

A complainant reported that the district was encouraging community members to “pray for the first day” of classes by praying for a specific group of people each day from July 26 to the first day of classes on Aug. 16. The district promoted the daily prayers in a post on its official Facebook page.

“By promoting prayer, the district sends an official message that excludes all nonreligious district students and community members,” FFRF Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Keith McBurnett.

McBurnett emailed FFRF back: “The Facebook post has been removed, and the district will refrain from posting anything similar in the future.”

Freedom From Religion Foundation