Colorado Church Forced from Meeting in Local High School after Lawsuit

A Colorado church has been forced from meeting in a high school where it has assembled for three years. The Cowboy Church at Crossroads previously met for Sunday services, weekly Bible study and “Jesus pizza” during lunch times, and prayers before school each morning. 

Christian News Network reports a Jewish employee at Florence High School complained about the church presence at the high school and was allegedly transferred to another school in the area. Robert Basevitz then filed suit against the school district, claiming the district was “operat[ing] largely to promote the evangelical Christian ideals” of a local church. 

According to Basevitz’s attorney Paul Mason, “Government and public schools need to remain neutral on questions of religion so that you and I are not forced to [be exposed to] someone else’s personal religious beliefs. The church has been involved in the school for at least three years. The pastor states they haven’t missed a day of prayer at the school in the past three years.”

The Church Church pastor Randy Pfaff maintains that no school employees were required to take part in the services, prayer meetings, or Bible studies. 

“I don’t believe the Constitution was meant to keep God out of the schools. That’s absolutely absurd,” Pfaff said. “This nation was founded on Christianity.”

The school district said it did not violate any laws, but agreed that outside groups will no longer be permitted to sponsor religious activities at schools. 

Publication date: July 31, 2015