3.13.2007

Savannah State University Bars Students From Following the Footsteps of Jesus...
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – Matthew 28:19-20

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, during them with the towel that was wrapped around him." – John 13:1-5

Just when we thought we had seen everything, Savannah State University has hit a new low when it comes to the silencing of Christianity at our nation's tax-funded universities.

The school has declared followers of Christ who carry out the Great Commission to be engaging in "harassment." And, in the school's view, those Christians that engage in foot washing – an act that takes place regularly each Easter season in thousands of Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox churches across the United States – are guilty of "hazing."

No, we're not making this one up!

On April 10th of last year, university officials informed a campus ministry, Commissioned II Love, that it was temporarily suspended from campus – therefore denying it access to university benefits and facilities. On May 1st, after a hearing the week before, the school imposed sanctions on the ministry and suspended them through January 2007. Finally, on September 11th, (a rather noteworthy date for attacking Christians?!?) the ministry was informed that because it had gone to a Christian concert at Walt Disney World that it violated the terms of its suspension.

The reason for the suspension? The university complained that the ministry had engaged in "harassment," because its members shared their faith – in public -- with other students, and in "hazing" because its leaders washed the feet, like Jesus modeled for His disciples, of new members of the ministry during a worship service. The university claimed that such Christian foot-washing was "an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, regardless of the student's willingness to participate in such activity."

ADF allied attorney Joseph Martins of the National Legal Foundation, with assistance of ADF Senior Legal Counsel David French, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, filed a lawsuit against the school's actions. He says: "Had Jesus Himself attended Savannah, his ministry would have been blocked by the university. These officials have cut off this ministry's ability to follow in Christ's footsteps by practicing prayer and evangelism." (A copy of the complaint in Commissioned II Love v. Scott can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/SavannahStateComplaint.pdf.)

We will keep you posted on this incredible case in the weeks ahead. As crazy as this case may seem, it is typical of the onslaught against Christian ministries and the practice of their faith. ADF and our allies must be there, everywhere, every time that our First Liberty – religious freedom – is under such preposterous attack. Thank you for making it possible to defend Believers' rights to hear and speak the Truth in more and more places!

Read the ADF press release to learn more...

Prayer Requests | Visit the ADF prayer page
"Without Christ, we can do nothing." - John 15:5

1. Please pray for wisdom and for victory in the many legal battles ahead
   
2. Please pray for the 2007 Blackstone Legal Fellowship class.