Headlines
Ole Miss, MSU Under Investigation by FFRF for Football Chaplains
John Powell, Ole Miss’ chaplain and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes staff member, leads a service for athletes in the football meeting room at the Manning Center.
The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are being investigated by an atheist group from Madison, Wisconsin, named the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
On Sept. 3, the FFRF submitted an open records request for emails between athletes and football chaplain John Powell, university rules and documents on staff- and coach-led prayer, financial records between the university and Powell, job postings for a football chaplain or any football team spiritual leader, and any other records of Powell’s involvement with the football team. Meanwhile, 11 days after the FFRF targeted The University of Mississippi, the foundation submitted the same request to Mississippi State University and their football chaplain, Bill Buckley.Buckley was contacted twice for an interview, but declined to comment.
Both Mississippi universities do not pay their football chaplains from public funds. The chaplains are employed by a non-profit organization called The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The FCA is a privately-run student group of Christian athletes across the United States. Todd Johnson, the Ole Miss FCA campus director, is not afraid of the FFRF and does not think their attorney, Sam Grover, will find anything suspicious in their documents such as students being forced to join the FCA.
“We have no fears because we are doing everything that other institutions (FCA) are doing,” Johnson said.
The FFRF is another national non-profit organization in the United States. The foundation’s purpose is to educate people on the constitutional principle of separation between church and state. Under the First Amendment, the FCA has the freedom to provide religious services to students, but the university cannot collaborate with the FCA to draw students to the group.
“Our records request was sent in part to ensure that the university is not impermissibly allying with the FCA to conduct religious services or to promote religion to student athletes,” Grover said.
There are five FCA districts in Mississippi, including The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University. The University of Mississippi has an average of 350 athletes that participate in FCA Bible studies, chapel services, and community service projects around Oxford.“On Sunday we meet at the Manning Center at 11 in the morning for worship, and on Mondays we meet for small groups and split up our Bible studies,” Thompson said. “We only have three staff members and have people outside of the school supporting us.”
Several churches and local businesses around Oxford and Mississippi donate money to the university’s FCA organization once a month or once a year to help with cost of maintaining the organization.
The two SEC universities in Mississippi seem to be the only SEC schools being targeted by the atheist group so far. Neighboring SEC schools have not been contacted by the FFRF. Louisiana State University football chaplain and member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Ken Ellis, believes the FFRF has no jurisdiction in their case. Ellis is not affiliated with LSU’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but works alongside of the group leading the Bible studies and chapel services.
“I don’t see where they (FFRF) have any grounds to stand on because first of all, the Bible studies and chapel services are voluntarily. No monies are being passed,” Ellis said. “I don’t know what their beef is or what leg they stand on.”
Grover said the FFRF became aware of The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State’s football chaplains because their programs appear similar to other chaplaincies started at elite football teams. Grover did not give any indication of what cases or schools he was referring to.The University of Mississippi’s attorney, Lee Tyner, has responded back to Grover. Tyner sent the FFRF attorney an initial response about the documents requested, but Grover has not read the statement yet. There is no word from Mississippi State University.
Grover will review the records that both schools send him to determine how the FFRF will proceed. The FCA is rights to have student organizations on campus, but the investigation could change the relationship between chaplains and their football teams. “The universities’ football team should voluntarily sever any ties it has with a chaplain. Having a chaplain on a public university athletic team is a violation of the Establishment Clause under the First Amendment,” Grover said.
“We’re not employees of the university,” Thompson said The University of Mississippi’s coaches and athletes are high profile and the FCA acts carefully to ensure that there is a small number of staff and only minimum volunteers.
Emily Newton is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached esnewto1@go.olemiss.edu.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | 6:30 PM • ESPN |
Judy
September 19, 2014 at 2:30 pm
I don’t care which team you cheer for,Ole Miss or State, but the atheist need to stay out of our business .
Debra
September 19, 2014 at 5:25 pm
A more accurate statement would be to refer to this group as a “freethinker” group. It does not represent only atheists. To refer to it as an “athiest” organization is not precisely accurate.
That is entirely separate from the lawsuit, which appears to be without merit.
Ken Glenn
September 19, 2014 at 5:40 pm
Tonight, I will be writing a check to help support John Powell’s work with the Ole Miss FCA.
Sandy
September 19, 2014 at 6:02 pm
This is absolutely the most ridiculous crap I have read in a long time. Tell those non believing jerks. To come to the south. We will show them what relegiin means to us. If that doesn’t work we can show them the redneck way. Hey here is an idea. Let’s start a law suite on them. Because it offends us that the don’t believe in God.
Amanda
September 19, 2014 at 7:26 pm
I Can not imagine why they think they can come to a state not their own and pick on us! I must be mistaken but I thought we still lived in the land of the free and with that being said free to pray or say what we want to! this country was founded on religion and free speech! I mean I don’t like the fact they don’t believe in God, but that’s their right and its mine as well to pray! These people like attention and well folks who ever yall may be you got it! YOU don’t like our southern ways , don’t let the door hit ya where the GOOD LORD split ya! My goodness really they need to stick to their own business and leave my state alone! if I am not mistaken I believe we have a law here in Ms that we are allowed to have prayer in our schools? My point being if you don’t like it leave! I am so sick of negative things constantly it is time we all need to be standing together! People GROW UP AMERICA!!! FREE FREE FREE speech and FREE RELIGION! GO Rebels & DAWGS!!! MS loves you!!!
Justin
September 20, 2014 at 1:57 am
Well first off, this atheist need to get the hell out of our business. But I wouldn’t be one big surprised if the University bans all pray on school grounds because the people that are running the school now days are becoming more and more politically correct and they are liberals. They are already getting rid of our traditions, so why not God? If it was up to me, the Ole Miss would have their own chaplains and pay them. Also, I wouldn’t respond or give those atheist anything! I would tell the to go shove it.
This Southern Girl
September 20, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Sandy, Amanda, and Justin: You should really learn how to spell and use punctuation correctly before posting comments in a public forum. You look and sound ignorant and uneducated. You do not represent The South well at all.
Anonymous
September 20, 2014 at 1:04 pm
With everything going on with NFL players right now, they all need some religion!!!
Lauren
September 21, 2014 at 7:59 am
Where are all of the Oxford attorneys??? And Alumni???? Come on guys, you can eat their “bologna” for lunch! It is our right to worship how and where we wish. With all of the problems in the world they choose to go after Christian associations. Btw, Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a Relationship!!
Cheryl Lockhart
September 21, 2014 at 8:50 am
I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I am allowed, I am directed by the Lord to say that. I teach my children about God. It is our right to worship the Lord. If our students chose to worship the Lord and then witness his presence in their lives, then AMEN to that.
Colleges have faith organizations on campus for those students who wish to continue their faith life. What is wrong with that? It is the devil who is attempting to push God out of our lives. These groups who are attempting to eliminate God from our campuses are doing the work of the devil. Answer their requests as legally you need to, but totally ignore them. God is Good, All the Time. We love, because HE loves us first. Amen
Anonymous
September 22, 2014 at 10:18 am
This group should stay in Ws and tend to their business and let us take care of ours. Stay away from us.
turniphead
September 23, 2014 at 7:44 pm
No one is saying you can’t bow down to your invisible sky daddy. Knock yourselves out, for all the good it does. It is just that your “universities” must remain neutral with regard to religion. So, unless you’re willing to hire representatives of all religions to ensure you are being fair, a monk, a witch doctor, and so forth, then you’ll just have to get over it and worship sky daddy at your churches, not in the public schools, where it doesn’t belong. Stuff like this is why the rest of the country looks at you and laughs. And believe me, they do.
Hannah
September 24, 2014 at 9:56 am
All I have to say to you, “turnip head” is that I have no clue what “Sky daddy” you are talking about. That is MY God, my savior, my redeemer. But I won’t laugh at you.. I’ll just pray for you. I hope one day you can find God and peace in your heart.
Jeanna
September 24, 2014 at 11:19 am
I’m going to pray for them.
Anonymous
September 24, 2014 at 11:25 am
Good grief! If the campus organization were the Fellowship of Islam would you all be as equally outraged? Really?! Think long and hard about that. FFRF represents freedom from religion, separation of church and state…not freedom from God. To classify them as atheist is grossly inaccurate. This is the typical response from the typically repressive, God fearing South. In 1962 your beloved institution rioted because a black man dared to want an education. Do you know how many people defended that with ‘religious beliefs”?
The history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion. In modern times the first to speak out for prison reform, for humane treatment of the mentally ill, for abolition of capital punishment, for women’s right to vote, for death with dignity for the terminally ill, and for the right to choose contraception, sterilization and abortion have been freethinkers, just as they were the first to call for an end to slavery.
This is not a group opposing christianity, they are upholding LAW, and there are reasons for such laws.
Anonymous
September 24, 2014 at 11:39 am
…and to all the “get the hell out of my state” and “if you don’t like it leave” braniacs. I can trace my family roots back to 1800 when one of the earliest settlers to Northern Mississippi married a Chickasaw Indian who stayed behind, in the exact county I grew up in. My ancestors picked cotton, farmed the land, served in public office, went off to war, saved lives and educated your children. I think we’ve earned the right to stay even if our beliefs aren’t the same as yours.
Joe
September 25, 2014 at 8:46 am
I will pray for this group of Atheists!! I’m tired of these groups coming to the South and trying to start something. This country was founded by our Founding Fathers with God in mind. They prayed, they sought God’s guidance and they read the Bible. If this country would turn back to being a Christian Nation then I bet we would eliminate a lot of problems.
Tamara
September 26, 2014 at 8:25 am
They are not all atheists for one. They were investigating whether the students were forced to participate in worship services (because, you know, it violates non-believers, or other-believers freedom of religion rights). Based on the comments of this thread alone, you, christian folk, hate just about anyone who has different beliefs as you. You feel like it’s ok to wave your beliefs all over the place, but when other people express theirs it offends you? What kind of gibberish is that? Didn’t your god tell you not to judge? I, as an agnostic atheist, am often discriminated for my lack of beliefs, I get frowns, outright “you are going to hell”, and “why are you even here”. I’ll tell you: because this is a free country, go ahead and pray to your god if that’s what you want, but do not DARE forcing your religious beliefs on others. And when organizations such as freedom from religion come down here trying to protect the minority of the students on campus, sit tight and do your thing. Don’t butt your heads where it doesn’t belong – in other people’s businesses! UM is a public school, it has to be separated from church. By the way, USA was not founded on religion, it was originally meant to be a secular society. get your facts straight, since you are such a patriot
Rick
October 14, 2014 at 1:27 am
Yeah when was the last time an atheist woke you up at 8 in the morning wanting to talk about JEZZZUS????..never!!! when was the last time it was someone from a church? When are people going to wake up in this country and realize we don’t what your religion? ! Religion is PRIVATE. MSU is PUBLIC, owned by the state. FFRF and every citizen that pays taxes should be concerned if FCA is getting public funds and doing religious activities with it. That concerns all of us. If you want church fine!! Go to church, just use private funds and private property to practice it. NOT TAX PAYERS MONEY. That is all.
ricky sandefur
October 25, 2019 at 1:29 pm
As usual the God police are trying to force everyone else to to believe in the invisible man in the sky.
God should not be in government period! If you have goods and services for sale to the public they should be offered to eveyone not just the hollier than thou born agains. And by the way you people that insist woman dress like little house on the prairie are just nuts. You look rediculous keep that crazy stuff to yourself. And since when do we have to bow down to you beliefs before sporting events let those players kneel all they want. And by the why Catholics are christians not just you born again idiots.