Minister Says Schools' Pro-Homosexual Settlement Shames Area Christians

by Jim Brown
February 11, 2004

(AgapePress) - A Kentucky pastor is expressing concern and disappointment over the outcome of a two-year dispute between a local school board and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Last year the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Boyd County school system over its refusal to allow a "Gay-Straight Alliance" club to meet on school grounds. In April, a federal judge ruled that excluding the GSA violated students equal access rights.

After months of negotiation with the ACLU, the school board recently agreed to recognize the GSA and provide homosexual tolerance and anti-harassment training classes for students, faculty, and staff. In exchange, the ACLU dropped its lawsuit.

However, Pastor Tim York of Heritage Free Will Baptist Church in Ashland says the settlement is not sitting well with the conservative community. "Morally, those who are opposed -- whether they are Christian or not -- are embarrassed. They are very ashamed that that kind of lifestyle is being promoted in the school system," he says.

York feels the Boyd County case is just another example of how the federal court system is permitting public schools across the country to be bombarded with the homosexual agenda. But although the pastor is disappointed with the outcome, he says the school board's acceptance of the ACLU's terms will not change his message to teenage church members.

The minister says his church will continue to teach young people Christian civility: that is, "to treat everyone with honor and human respect, to take their Christian stand, to share their moral views but make sure they're not harassing, that they're being very kind and gracious."

Pastor York says he is encouraging the students in his congregation to take a strong moral stand in the midst of the pro-homosexual influences that have established a foothold in their schools, and to be "a good light and salt in a world that is so dark."