Appeals Court Bans Church From Renting School Building

03 June 2011
Jennifer LeClaire

In a decision that runs contrary to established U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled 2-1 on Thursday that New York City Public schools can keep churches from renting school facilities for weekend meetings.

It’s a long-fought battle between the Bronx Household of Faith and the Board of Education of the city of New York—a 16-year battle to be exact. The outcome could cause a negative ripple effect on churches across the country that want to meet at schools on the same terms as other community groups.

The Alliance Defense Fund represents the Bronx church in the case. ADF attorneys intend to appeal the 2nd Circuit’s decision to ensure that churches are not tossed out of the schools. An injunction has protected churches for the past nine years. the rest