HUNTINGTON — The parents of several Huntington High School students who were allegedly forced to attend a religious revival are suing the Cabell County Board of Education and others.
The Cabell County Board of Education, Cabell County Superintendent Ryan Saxe and Huntington High School Principal Daniel Gleason were all named as defendants in the suit.
Herman Mays Jr. and Elizabeth Mays, the parents of C.M.; Bethany Felinton, the mother of S.F., E.F. and C.F.; Jana Tigchelaar, the mother of C.T. and S.T.; and Max Nibert claim the Cabell County Board of Education and its school administrators systematically disregard the religious freedom of their students and institute Christian religious practices for students, according to a complaint filed Feb. 17 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
"For years, school system employees have violated the constitutional rights of students by promoting and advancing the Christian religion, as well as by coercing students into participating in Christian religious activity," the complaint states.
Most recently, this occurred when Cabell County sponsored a religious revival during the school day, holding an assembly that sought to convert students.
"Some students were forced to attend," the complaint states. "Regardless of whether attendance is mandatory or voluntary, the Defendants violate the First Amendment by permitting, coordinating, and encouraging students to attend an adult-led worship service and revival at their school during the school day."
The parents and students want the practices to stop, according to the suit.
Evangelist Nik Walker hosted a revival through his traveling ministry, Nik Walker Ministries Inc., and collaborated with Christ Temple Church to host the revival.
On Feb. 2, Cabell County Schools administrators authorized Walker's ministry service to conduct a religious revival at Huntington High School during the school day and during the revival, Walker preached to students about needing to make the decision to follow Jesus or "face eternal torment," the complaint states.
Several students were forced to attend the revival, while others were allowed to not attend, but still felt it was wrong to have the revival during school hours.
The school board had also received prior warnings from the Freedom From Religion Foundation for its religious practices at county schools in both 2017 and 2019, according to the suit.
On Feb. 9, Nibert organized a walkout during the school day as a form of protest and more than 100 students attended, the complaint states. After the walkout, the school board announced it would investigate the revival, however, the school system did not indicate if it will change its policies, training or supervision of its employees, according to the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking a judgment declaring that authorizing Nik Walker Ministries to perform the revival was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from sponsoring religious assemblies and conducting, promoting or participating in Nik Walker Ministries in the future.
The plaintiffs are represented by Marcus B. Schneider of Steele Schneider in Pittsburgh; Patrick C. Elliott and Christopher Line from the Freedom From Religion Foundation; and Kristina Thomas Whiteaker of the Grubb Law Group in Charleston.