A football coach in Georgia was fired after he held a ceremony to baptize 20 of his players.
A football coach
in Georgia was fired after he held a ceremony to baptize 20 of his players.
Isaac Ferrell will
continue to teach in the Tattnall County School District, superintendent
Kristen Waters told Fox 28 Savannah.
The Christian
ceremony took place Oct. 23, with local pastor Gary Few baptizing the players
in tubs.
Some people in the
district were apparently upset Ferrell brought religion into athletics.
Freedom From
Religion Foundation (FFRF) attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Waters that
Ferrell "abused his power."
"The district
must refrain from infusing its football program with religion, and Coach
Ferrell cannot be allowed to preach to student-athletes or allow a local pastor
to preach to and baptize students," he wrote.
Ferrell is now out
of a coaching job. Waters, however, said the decision was made because of an
incident after a game Nov. 3.
"The safety
and security of our students is paramount to Tattnall County Board of
Education," Waters said in a statement. "Based on the outcome of an
investigation into an incident that occurred Friday night, Nov. 3, while
traveling after the football game, the district decided that it would seek a
head football coach that aligned with the best interests of the students.
"As to any
other allegations, the district does not comment during ongoing
investigations."
Waters did not
immediately reply to a request for comment.
COMMENTS