A Christian group known for fellowship over Bible study and pizza has filed a lawsuit against a school board that attacked it for hosting guests during club meetings. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Timberlane Middle School and Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, New Jersey, has been banned from having adult mentors present when they gather, since they are a “religious” group. 

The FCA is a group that exists for students to live out their faith, enjoy friendship, and serve their classmates. For years, the Hopewell Valley School District FCA “huddles” groups adult attendees who acted as mentors to students. In March 2025, the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the school district complaining, resulting in the ban of outside individuals from FCA meetings. On August 11, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed a lawsuit against the school district on behalf of the Christian group. 

“Volunteers at student organizations and events provide students with knowledge, personal attention, and caring role models who help them succeed,” said the Becket Fund in a case summary. FCA’s volunteers do just that: they mentor students, answer questions about life, faith, and sports, help student leaders grow, and yes, bring the pizza.

“It’s discriminatory on its face. The rule is religious clubs don’t get to have volunteers. Non-religious clubs do,” Joe Davis, senior counsel for the Becket Fund, pointed out during an appearance on “Washington Watch.” 

Davis referred to the hypocrisy that clubs such as the robotics club and environmental club in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District are allowed to host guests whenever they like. He described the FFRF as an “atheist advocacy group.”

“The Freedom From Religion Foundation; it’s right there in their name,” Davis continued. “... [W]hat the First Amendment actually does is protect the freedom of religion. And they sent a letter to the school district attacking FCA, attacking these kids that have these voluntary meetings.”

The FCA complaint described the rule as unconstitutional and the type of action that civil rights laws exist to prevent. The Becket Fund says that it specifically violates the Equal Access Act, which “prohibits federally-funded public secondary schools which allow non-school-sponsored groups of students to meet from discriminating against any meeting of students on the basis of religious content if: (1) the meeting is voluntary and student initiated; (2) there is no government sponsorship; and (3) no unlawful activity is permitted,” according to Congress. 

“The district refused to budge, and FCA students lost an entire school year of adult mentorship their peers continue to enjoy with no end in sight,” the Becket Fund explained. 

Davis explained that under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, the Christian students in the Hopewell district are protected when it comes to expressing their faith. 

“That includes meeting with these volunteers who are there to provide spiritual guidance, mentorship, answer questions about the Bible, help the student leaders when they need help,” Davis asserted. “They’re practicing their faith together. And these student groups have a right to do that, especially if other groups are being allowed to have outside volunteers come in as well.”

Carolyn McDonough, the New Jersey area director for FCA and alumna of Hopewell Valley Central High school, said that mentorship in this capacity is valuable. 

“As an inaugural member of FCA at Hopewell Valley’s Central High School, I know firsthand how much mentors mean to students. They helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus and live out my faith through sports. Now I have the privilege of doing the same for today’s students. I pray the court will let me continue that ministry.”