FFRF has ensured that Georgetown Independent School District in Texas will not send administrators to participate in the Georgetown National Day of Prayer in their official capacities.
After explaining that the National Day of Prayer is a sectarian Christian event founded by Billy Graham, FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote, “Government officials can worship, pray and participate in religious events in their personal capacities. But they are not permitted to provide credibility or prestige to their religion by lending a government office and government title to religious events.”
On Sept. 23, Superintendent Fred Brent assured Grover “that the District is committed to following the requirements of the First Amendment when it comes to the separation of Church and State,” and said that the administrator did not know he would be expected to speak at the prayer event. “I can assure you that if the District is invited to attend this or similar events in the future, and we do send someone to attend, it will not be in a leadership or participatory role as a district official,” Brent said.
