Several high school students in West Virginia were outraged at the prospect of their school hosting a voluntary Christian assembly for those interested.
In protest, they walked out of the program, according to a report.
Last week, a mini Christian revival took place at Huntington High School during a noninstructional break. Some teachers unintentionally brought their entire class to the assembly, instead of putting out sign-up sheets, according to Cabell County Schools spokesperson Jedd Flowers.
He said the mistake was unfortunate and that “we don’t believe it will ever happen again.”
Senior Max Nibert helped organize the walkout, with 100 students participating. During the protest, they chanted, “Separate the church and state” and “My faith, my choice.”
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“I don’t think any kind of religious official should be hosted in a taxpayer-funded building with the express purpose of trying to convince minors to become baptized after school hours,” Nibert said.
A petition asking the school district to apologize was circulated during the walkout, amassing around 75 signatures, according to a report. The petition also prompts the creation of a policy regarding religious speakers in schools.
Upon hearing of the event, the Freedom From Religion Foundation — “the nation’s largest free thought association with more than 30,000 freethinkers: atheists, agnostics and skeptics of any pedigree,” according to its website — sent a letter to the school district.
“It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the District to offer religious leaders unique access to preach and proselytize students during school hours on school property,” the letter read.
The Christian event, hosted by local evangelist Nik Walker, was sponsored by the school’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It’s not unusual for voluntary events to take place during this break period, which serves as a quasi study hall or free period.
Walker, the revival’s host, performs similar events across West Virginia with his ministries.
During the event, he spread the gospel to students in the audience, encouraging them and their families to attend evening services at a nearby church.
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The Associated Press reported that Walker said he has never asked to come to the school, but students have invited him.
“The students, they receive hope here (at Christ Temple Church) and then they want to bring hope to their school or to their classmates,” Walker said.
