While asserting a broad constitutional right to distribute religious tracts, the pastor of West Valley's Bible Baptist Church said his church also respects any legal restrictions that might apply to school property.
The issue arose after four Salt Lake County schools questioned the distribution of religious pamphlets by church members on or near school grounds."Our church has a tract ministry, just as many other churches do," said Pastor Marshall Warneke. "Some of our younger members took some of the tracts up to the schools, and somebody apparently complained."
Pastor Warneke said his church board never expressly authorized the distribution of tracts on school property. "It's nothing we planned. These are good kids who are trying to get people their own age to wake up and come to God," he said.
If schools are indeed off limits, "we certainly don't want to be anywhere we can't be," Pastor Warneke said, adding that his church has consulted a lawyer.
School officials say the restrictions on religious or political activities on school grounds have been legally established.
"Schools, in a way, are a public place, but we can restrict their use," said Granite District spokesman Kent Gardner. "Our policy prohibiting the distribution of religious or political materials is quite clear."
The only exception, he said, is when a school facility has been rented out to a private organization.
Gardner said only one school in the Granite District reported the distribution of the religious tracts by the Bible Baptist Church, "and in that case, it was apparently happening on the public sidewalk."
In the Jordan District, however, possible violations were reported by three schools, including the Joel P. Jensen Middle School, 8105 S. 3200 West. Principal Sheryl Bunderson said several teachers found pamphlets on their windshields and also saw people passing out tracts at the edge of the school grounds.
"We received a couple of phone calls from parents who were concerned about it," Bunderson said. The activity occurred only once, she said, adding, "I think they (church members) may have simply misunderstood the rules."