Faith club sues Owasso School District for right to promote activities

Matt Sharp of Georgia, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said Tuesday the defense fund has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of the Kids for Christ Club of Owasso. Sharp said the school district denied the club the right to promote its activities among parents and students in the district.

Club members have been meeting before school at Owasso's Northeast Elementary School since 2010, but recently were told they could not distribute promotional fliers and posters at the school or around the community, Sharp said.

He said club organizers believe their group is being discriminated against because the organization touts Christianity, however Owasso Superintendent Clark Ogilvie said the issue “has been misconstrued and taken out of context.”

In a prepared statement, Ogilvie said the school district never has denied access to any religious groups. He said religious groups have met in the district's facilities for years without discrimination but are asked to follow certain guidelines/school policies.