CANTON, Ga. (ABP) — A Georgia school board voted Jan. 20 to keep its high-school graduation ceremonies at a Southern Baptist mega-church, ignoring threats of a possible lawsuit.
The Cherokee County school board voted unanimously not to move graduations for the district's students away from First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., a 17,000-member congregation led by former Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt.
In 2009 lawyers for Americans United for Separation of Church and State warned the school board that holding graduation services in a religious setting while suitable secular venues are available is an unconstitutional government establishment of religion.
In December the school board postponed a vote on whether to move the ceremonies, reasoning that holding off until some newly elected board members took office would put the district in a stronger position in the event of legal action.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.
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