Michigan school district bars missionaries, Gideons after FFRF complaint
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation has persuaded Michigan’s Fremont Public Schools to end two unconstitutional religious practices after learning that Christian missionaries were recruiting students during lunch and that Gideons International planned to distribute bibles on campus.
A concerned parent reported that, over the last few months, NET Ministries missionaries had been coming to Fremont Middle School twice a week during the lunch hour to talk to students about Christianity. One of the missionaries reportedly told their child that the missionaries were there “to talk about anything you want to talk about, and of course spread the word of God.” The NET (National Evangelization Teams) Ministries website says that Discipleship Teams are the missionaries who “attend school lunches” and that they “focus on evangelistic outreach.” The parent explained that this made their child and other students feel “uncomfortable” and “othered” by the obvious presence of a proselytizing group during the school day.
Additionally, the parent reported that Gideons International sent permission slips home with students to distribute bibles the following week at school. The parent also reported that fliers advertising the on-campus bible distribution were posted around the school.
“The district cannot offer religious organizations unique access to its schools in order to proselytize, recruit, or distribute religious materials to students,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to the district.
FFRF noted that granting outside religious organizations special access to students during the school day constitutes unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. Such practices also marginalize students who are nonreligious or members of minority faiths. Research shows that 38 percent of Americans are non-Christian and that 43 percent of Generation Z are nonreligious.
Following FFRF’s letter, Superintendent Brad Reyburn confirmed that both religious groups would no longer be permitted on campus.
“The Gideons did not end up passing out any bibles in the district and will not be allowed to return to Fremont Middle School. This was the first time that they were ever allowed in the district and it won’t happen again,” Reyburn confirmed via email. “The group that came to the lunches was not presented to the administration as this kind of group. They also will not be back to Fremont Middle School.”
FFRF applauds the district’s prompt action to protect students’ religious freedom.
“Public schools exist to educate, not to provide outside ministries with a captive audience for evangelism,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The district made the right decision by ending these unconstitutional practices. Students deserve to go through the school day free from religious recruitment and coercion.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, including over 1,100 members in Michigan, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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FFRF stops coach from assigning Christian journaling, punishing students who refused
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has persuaded a California school district to end a practice in which a high school basketball coach required players to complete Christian journal assignments or face extra conditioning during practice.
A concerned parent reported that the Enterprise High School basketball coach in the Shasta Union High School District was forcing students to complete daily affirmations and prayers in faith-based journals during the 2026 basketball season. The journals featured a Latin cross on the cover and were titled “The Empowered Christian Athlete Journal.”
According to the parent, the coach would punish student-athletes by forcing them to run additional laps during practice if they did not complete their Christian journal assignments. In numerous text messages, the coach reminded students that they must complete the religious assignments or else face punishment, such as “running double.” The parent further explained that they were “very angered and disappointed … that a Christian based journal would be pushed at a public school” and that their “child would be disciplined for not participating” in the religious journal activities. They explained that they are not a religious family, and pointed out that the faith-based journal assignments crossed the constitutional line.
“When coaches direct students to complete Christian journal assignments or else face punishment at practice, student-athletes will no doubt feel that completing the religious journaling is essential to avoiding punishment, pleasing their coach, and being viewed as a team player,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.
FFRF noted to the district that public school coaches may not use their authority to coerce students into participating in religious activities or completing faith-based assignments. The coach clearly violated the First Amendment rights of student-athletes. Additionally, religious team assignments needlessly marginalize students, such as the parent’s child, who are nonreligious or members of minority faiths. Forty-two percent of adult Californians are non-Christians, and 33 percent are nonreligious. Statistically, nearly half of Americans born after 1996 are nonreligious.
Following FFRF’s complaint, the district investigated the allegations.
“Upon completion of the investigation, we informed the coach that the use of the journal in this context should not continue moving forward,” Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Jason Rubin wrote. “In addition, the district will provide training and guidance to staff to ensure a clear understanding of expectations and to help prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.”
FFRF welcomes the district’s prompt corrective action and will continue working to ensure that public school students are free from religious coercion.
“This is one of the more egregious misuses of authority we have recently seen by a public school coach,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Coaches wield enormous influence over young athletes, and that authority cannot be used to pressure students into participating in religious exercises. Public school athletics should build teamwork and character, not serve as a vehicle for religious indoctrination.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, including over 5,000 members and two chapters in California, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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