I want to start a student led Bible club at my public school. (USA) How can I do it and how do I avoid trouble & harrassment? What can I do and what can't I do? Can Christian teachers help out? Can we pray and sing songs? Thanks for your input, ideas and web links.
Tube Dude
2006-09-05 12:03:55 · 16 answers · asked by TubeDude 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This might help:
http://www.aclj.org/news/read.aspx?ID=2038
If you need more specific info, contact the ACLJ directly, they should be able to provide the info you need.
2006-09-05 12:10:52 · answer #1 · answered by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As was said before, just find a teacher or someone who will sponsor the club and you should be okay. Might as well post some flyers around school. Not alot, just a few here and there. When you first start it make it light and casual. Some prayer and some getting to know one another. Then see where you need to go. It could be a good outreach tool.
As long as unchristian values are spewed without mercy in the school place, then I say religious folk should be able to do whatever they can unobtrusively and intelligently. Let's be honest; those who don't want God in school are promoting a godlessness which is basically promoting their own beliefs. Why shouldn't the religious be allowed to do the same? Funny how it's those who continuously cry for free speech who are the ones trying to shut you up and keep God out of America. Not saying that we should have mandatory prayer in school, but let's not start persecuting the religious.
Then ignore all the idiots giving you crap on this board. They're on the internet and that makes them think they can be jerks or that anyone cares what they think.
By the way, I am not a Christian.
2006-09-05 12:20:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any Christian can help. It cant be out in the open like a lunch room, but if you have a period where a class is empty and the teacher dont mind, have it in their. Invite anyone and all of course, dont put a denominational label on the bible study or prayer meating. If you have a lot of adults there you wont have many students. I would start out as a prayer meeting with a short devotional and a song if yall like, directly for students. You wont have 50 kids show up the first day but there will be some to come and with the small numbers you can get the feel and routine of how to do things. Always have a person (student) to be your go to guy if you cant make it, and be sure He is there everytime. Its not illegal to have religion in a public school but it cant be forced on anyone else. You may deal with trouble and harrassment but dont you even think about quitting. Do your best to spend some time in prayer and in the bible for your devotional. Dont throw somthing together and if you know your not right with the Lord, let your other guy do it. Speak the truth, dont worry about who is in there. God bless
2006-09-05 13:20:02 · answer #3 · answered by Airman_P 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DO ask SINCERELY and PROPERLY IF, thats an IF, you can start the club. DON'T push it to far by saying that it's mandatory and that you NEED one. We learned in government how a girl had a bible club at school. but i wasn't listening. At school we had one last year, it was in the morning. So, DO ask to do it in the morning, and DO get a list of names that want the club to be formed also. I think you need to have a teacher to help make the club official so ask a teacher. If i were you i would aska teacher about the IDEA and if you feel like he was pessimistic about it, don't go to the counselor. well good luck dude.
2006-09-05 12:13:23 · answer #4 · answered by flippinapple 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well I am an atheist...but I am also a strong proponent of individual rights...and just as i would not be discriminated against for my lack of religion i would not like to see you discriminated against either....so here is your answer... If the school allows any non-academic club or group to use its facilities, it can't disallow you from using the facilities...and yes you can pray and sing songs... you can also pray silently all you want at school all the time ...the only prayes that aren't allowed in schools are ones in which stundents are forced to participate in...example a coach or a teacher leads the whole class in a prayer....to satan...or allah...or jehovah...you see the problem? and the difference between an after school optional group of like minded students?
good luck
2006-09-05 12:16:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You just need to invite people, teachers do have to stay out of it as a "teacher" they can be there to answer questions, or to over see things though. Yes, you can pray, sing songs whatever you choose. My daughter has been a part of one at her school and they did have one teacher who was there just for supervision, not as their leader. the students have to do all of the leading.
Good luck!! I think what you are doing is awesome.
2006-09-05 12:11:29 · answer #6 · answered by hopetohelpyou 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Any club that is only open to members of a particular faith, would be a problem. In other words, if you form the club and a Mormon wants to join, you have to let the Mormon join.
2006-09-05 12:10:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contact the American Center for Law of Justice @ www.aclj.org.
They will help you to know the legal of all the ins and outs. There is no charge for the information, and they will help you to do what is right. Take care, and may God bless you always.
2006-09-05 12:15:39 · answer #8 · answered by salvation 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Only if I can start a Satanic club what do you think? Oooo how about an Islamic club to study the Qur'an in a public school.......what is good for the goose.......
*bows his head in prayer*
God please let him be in my area so I can crush his little dream.
2006-09-05 12:06:37 · answer #9 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't have a bible club at school. Do have a bible club at your home or another student's home.
2006-09-05 12:10:33 · answer #10 · answered by i luv teh fishes 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋