Claudette Riley

CRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Following a complaint, the Joplin school district agreed to suspend a Bible study at the middle school that provided free doughnuts to those who showed up.

The legal team from the American Humanist Association wrote a nine-page letter to the district in December. It alleged, among other things, that school employees and clergy used sweet treats to lure students to the Christian gathering.

The Bible study took place during breakfast on Thursdays.

In a news release Monday, the association announced it had been informed the district halted the program — as well as similar Bible studies at other schools — because they did not comply with a district policy, updated in March, that only permits student-led initiatives for students in grades 9-12.

A statement from the district, provided Monday to the News-Leader, acknowledges staff members were unaware of the policy update and "its implication for this activity."

"As a result, we have suspended the Bible study as it is currently organized," district officials wrote in the statement. "Community groups that wish to host activities such as this, or other types of events or activities, at our schools may do so by complying with our facilities use policy."

The district stated the Bible study was "a student-initiated activity held before class, not during instructional time, and it is entirely voluntary for students to attend."

In conclusion, the district stated it will continually seek to improve its processes and communication and encourages parents and community members to reach out with any questions or concerns.

In the December letter, the association alleged the school employees and community clergy involved in the Bible study used the doughnuts "essentially as a bribe to get children in the door."

“We are pleased that the program has stopped, but disappointed that the district, perhaps in an attempt to save face, has falsely described the program as lawful. In fact, the program was very much adult-led and clearly unconstitutional,” said David Niose, legal director of the association, in a release. "Nevertheless, the important outcome is that the school will no longer be promoting Christianity and luring children to Christian meetings with promises of special treats."

The American Humanist Assocation became involved after a Joplin parent, who belongs to the association, contacted the group, which strongly objects to the "promotion of Christianity, or any other religion" in a public school setting.

The group also works to protect the rights of humanists and atheists.

This is not the first time the association — whose motto is "Good without a God" — has taken action against the Joplin school district. Last year, the group filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging it sent middle school students on an "unconstitutional" field trip to a religious sports complex. That legal action is still pending.