College Campus Victory

In 1993, I went to the Supreme Court of the United States to argue for the right of churches to have access to school facilities.  The Supreme Court granted us a unanimous victory in that case which has had a dramatic impact on the church-planting movement in the United States.  Many high school and college facilities have been utilized to start campus outreaches for churches in communities from coast to coast.  Generally, governments have complied with the Supreme Courts decision. This was not the case in Wyoming.

Kevin Ross of the Journey Church of Rock Springs, Wyoming, contacted us because Western Wyoming Community College denied his request to rent a facility at the school for the purpose of holding a worship service on the first Sunday of each month.  The denial was based on the colleges use policy.  One policy governing public use of college facilities stated:  Organizations may use college facilities, except for religious or sectarian activities.  Another policy governing community use of the colleges facilities and equipment stated specifically that college facilities may not be used for activities primarily consisting of sectarian religious instruction, organized prayer, or other organized sectarian religious activities. 

We sent a demand letter outlining the law on behalf of the church, explaining that the use policies violated the First Amendment and the Supreme Courts decision in our Lambs Chapel case.  Im happy to report that a Board of Trustees meeting on December 13^th resulted in the college amending its policies and changing its rules.

We were notified in writing that at its regularly scheduled meeting of December 13, 2007, the Board of Trustees of Western Wyoming Community College amended college policies 1330B and 1330E. The sentence in policy 1330B that used to say, Organizations may use college facilities, except for religious or sectarian activities, now says, Organizations may use college facilities.  Also, the provision of policy 1330E prohibiting activities primarily consisting of sectarian religious instruction, organized prayer, or other organized sectarian religious activities has been completely removed and rescinded. 

This is an important outcome and provides another opportunity for the Gospel to be shared on college campuses.