When Arizona Christian University was unjustly discriminated against because of its religion, the school fought back and won. Praise God!

From WORLD. In the spring of 2023, a public school board in Arizona voted unanimously to cancel a Christian university’s student teaching contract with local elementary schools, citing the university’s Christian beliefs. The decision ended an 11-year relationship between Arizona Christian University (ACU) and the Washington Elementary School District (WESD) in Phoenix and Glendale, Ariz. — or so it seemed.

View Comments (1)

This content is supported by your donations.
Give today.

Thankfully, the story didn’t end there. This fall, ACU student teachers will once again return to classrooms in district schools as they have in past years. This positive and prompt resolution is a result of this Christian university’s record of serving the district, campus leadership’s action to reverse an unjust decision, and the campus community’s commitment to pray for resolution.

Over the years, ACU student teachers have engaged their calling to education by serving in local public school classrooms. … No complaints had been lodged about ACU student teachers’ performance and no evidence was given that any of them had disregarded local school policies. …

During the Feb. 23 meeting at which the board voted to discontinue working with ACU, several members identified the university’s Christian faith as the reason for their disapproval. …

The school board’s adverse action citing the university’s Christian confession represented unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religious belief. Working with attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, ACU filed a lawsuit with the goal of reversing the board’s action.

That goal was accomplished. The legal complaint prompted the school board to revisit the issue in a subsequent meeting in early May. On reconsideration, the board voted to reinstate the ACU contract with the Washington Elementary School District. …

The swift, successful ending to the conflict is an important example for us all. Arizona Christian University knew why and how to stand by its commitment to serve on the basis of its Christian convictions. Wisdom of that sort will be critical for other Christian schools and ministries as similar cultural conflicts arise elsewhere.

Are you encouraged by this news? Share this article with your friends and family to encourage them!

(Excerpt from WORLD. Photo Credit: Canva)