JACKSON, Tennessee – A mandatory training event is facing resistance at the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Nearly 2,000 Jackson-Madison County school system employees celebrated the start of the new school year.

On Tuesday, July 30, JMCSS participants met at the Carl Perkins Center for continuing education.

The inspirational gospel songs were performed by the city’s newly appointed Human Resources Director and local gospel artist Kelsea Merriweather.

Some JMCSS staff were caught on video praying and singing along to the music.

On August 1, religious freedom attorney Hirsh M. Joshi wrote a letter to the district on behalf of the foundation after learning about the training that became a worship experience.

“Whether people pray there or not is actually irrelevant. Whether the teachers pray there or not is not really our concern. It is whether the school answers the prayers and that is what we see especially in this type of training,” Joshi said.

He explained to us that it was unconstitutional to force employees to sing or pray during teacher training or other school-sponsored events.

“When you invite a speaker to say a prayer and play real worship music through an official speaker like that – well, I’m sure it was a microphone and a set of speakers, but what you’re doing is an official endorsement of that particular religion and also that particular brand of Christianity,” Joshi said.

We reached out to Superintendent Dr. Marlon King, who told us he responded to Joshi’s email.

According to a statement released by the foundation and approved by Dr. King, King said:

“Please know that it was never our intention to make anyone uncomfortable or to force religious beliefs on them. I deeply respect all religions and the diverse faiths of our community. Our goal was to inspire and unite our employees, not to promote any particular religious practice.”

In the statement, Joshi even praised King for his quick response to the foundation.

“Dr. King is not a villain in any way, he is a good person and a good man. The city and the county there are very fortunate to have him as superintendent,” Joshi said.

To read the full statement from the Foundation and Dr. King, click here Here.

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