‘I do, in fact, hold animus’: Washington school district sued for open discrimination against legal Bible program

LifeWise Academy is a nonprofit Christian organization founded in 2018 that provides off-site, Bible-based religious instruction to public school students during the regular school day. The program is fully compliant with the three criteria of released time laws (affirmed by the 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Zorach v. Clauson): classes are held off school property, it’s privately funded, and participation is voluntary with parental consent.

But LifeWise is nonetheless being attacked at some schools — often by those who welcome progressive initiatives, like Pride Month, in the classroom.

On a recent episode of “Relatable,” Allie Beth Stuckey sat down with LifeWise Academy founder and CEO Joel Penton to discuss the program and its ongoing battles with progressive schools.

Serving tens of thousands of students across