Today is the 20th annual See You At the Pole event at schools around the country. The event's website describes its purpose: "See You at the Pole™ is all about prayer. It's about you coming together and laying aside all of the labels and groups for one day, to simply engage with God in prayer and connect with fellow Christians in unity around the flag pole." Charisma News says that sponsors expect 2 million students-- from elementary school to college age-- to attend the student-led events, usually scheduled before the formal beginning of the school day. Church-state questions still remain as to the permissibility of participation in SYATP by teachers and administrators, and about how the programs may be publicized in schools. (See prior posting.)
Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director J. Brent Walker, writing Monday at the Washington Post's On Faith, suggests guidelines for conducting programs. They include a warning that: "students should avoid being lulled into a civil religion trap. Joining hands in a circle facing the quintessential symbol of our country, the American Flag, makes this a real risk. Yes, we are told in Scriptures to pray for our leaders. Students should understand they are not praying to Caesar, but to God." Jamison Foser at Media Matters criticizes Walker's suggestions, saying that SYATP undermines the spirit, if not the letter, of church-state separation.
