Fla. Conservative Group Distributes Bibles at Public Schools

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Volunteers from a Florida-based group have distributed Bibles to the lunchrooms of several high schools in the Sunshine State.

World Changers of Florida, a conservative organization, distributed the Bibles on Wednesday, with a focus on high schools in Orange County.

Greg Harper, vice president of Education for World Changers, wrote in a blog entry, "We have given out thousands of Bibles over the last few years and we are working to expand the program to many other school districts."

"Our members and volunteers from many local churches will place Bibles on tables during the lunch periods for students to pick up."

Katherine P. Marsh, senior manager of Media Relations for Orange County Public Schools, provided The Christian Post with a memo sent to high school principals last month regarding the distribution event.

"Prior to entry onto your campuses by any representative of World Changers, they will be cleared and registered as Volunteers and will have passed the appropriate background screenings," reads the memo.

As the memo provided by Marsh explains, three years ago World Changers successfully sued Collier County for their attempted barring of the group from "passive distribution" of Bibles.

"Passive distribution means the Bibles may be placed on one unmanned table for distribution in a location where students normally congregate during non-instructional time," reads the memo. "The representatives may only be allowed to replenish Bibles if they run out and must remove any undistributed literature at the end of the distribution day."

According to its website, World Changers is "a dynamic organization of concerned citizens who believe that they can influence the world around them by engaging their local, state, national and international governing bodies."

Donations for the Bible distribution organized by World Changers went through the Inspired Learning Center, whose ultimate goals include introducing Bible curriculum programs in high schools and aid the coordination of such programs with after-school student-led religious clubs.

"Inspired Learning Center intends to provide all the resources and information necessary for local communities to institute Bible Curriculum programs that meet Constitutional considerations," reads the home page of their website.

"We will become a clearing house and resource depository for textbooks, training aids, collateral materials, teacher training programs, etc."

As Bibles are distributed to high schools in Orange County, volunteers hope to do likewise on Thursday for high schools in Collier County.

The passive distribution of Bibles at public schools by the volunteers corresponded with the annual observance National Religious Freedom Day.