A Georgia high school football coach was fired after holding a baptism service for 20 of his players on campus last month, according to a report.
The superintendent of Tattnall County High School announced the firing of coach Isaac Ferrell after a video posted to the team’s official Facebook page showed players being baptized in a tub by a local pastor.
Footage shows Pastor Gary Few directing players individually to sit in a large black tub of water before telling them: “I now baptize you, my brother, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
The shepherd then puts his head under the water as the players around him applaud in support.
The Oct. 23 incident outraged some members of the community, eventually leading one to report it to a group called The Freedom from Religion Foundation.
High school football coach Isaac Ferrell was fired after holding a baptism service for his players after practice. Youtube
The foundation bills itself as a “state/church watchdog that promotes the constitutional principle of separation of state and church,” according to its website.
They claim Ferrell was “abusing his office” and committed a “constitutional violation,” an article on their website reads.
“We write to request that the District investigate this situation and ensure that this school-sponsored religious coercion ends immediately,” an attorney for the foundation, Chris Line, wrote to Superintendent Kristen Waters on Nov. 1. “All coaches and staff must be educated about their obligations as public school employees.”
The shepherd is seen ducking a player’s head underwater as players around him applaud in support. Facebook
“The district must refrain from infusing religion into its football program, and Coach Ferrell cannot be allowed to preach to student-athletes or a local pastor to preach and baptize students,” Line added.
The superintendent, however, stated that Ferrell’s firing was due to an isolated situation after a Nov. 3 football game and not the baptism.
“Based on the outcome of an investigation into an incident that occurred on Friday night, November 3, while traveling after the football game, the District decided it would seek a head football coach who aligned with the best interests of the students,” Waters announced. .
Community members were shocked and upset that the head coach had a local pastor baptize the players. Facebook
“As for any other allegations, the District is not commenting during ongoing investigations,” the statement continued.
Ferrell, who also teaches at the school, may still keep his job in Tattnall County, but an investigation into the baptism service is still underway, Waters said.
Some parents on the team defended Ferrell, a former Georgia Southern football player, and praised him for baptizing their children.
The superintendent announced that Isaac Ferrell’s firing was the result of an isolated situation after a Nov. 3 football game, not the baptism. Facebook
One mother said she was “extremely proud” of her son and stated that it was what her son “wanted to do.”
“I was very proud of him because he made the decision on his own. I didn’t have to hold his hand and he did it because he wanted to,” Latifa Johnson told News 3.
“It was really sweet because you see the guys and it seemed like they loved him,” Johnson continued. “You know, everyone seemed excited, from what I could see. It was also encouraging, thank you, God. Yes Yes Yes. He was totally in favor.”
Others on Facebook also appeared to support the questionable baptism service.
“That coach is changing lives…not just winning games!” a comment read.
“That’s what I’m talking about!!! Congratulations young people! You just made the best decision of your lives! Hallelujah!!!! Glory to God!!!!!” another response read.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn