KFUO program to examine Supreme Court case involving LCMS congregation

On April 19, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments for Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, a case involving an LCMS congregation.

That same day, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorney Christiana Holcomb will talk about the case with moderator Kip Allen on April’s “Free to be Faithful” program on Worldwide KFUO.

Holcomb

At issue in the case is a children’s playground.

In 2012, Trinity Lutheran Church and Child Learning Center in Columbia, Mo., applied for a grant through a program administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that helps pay for rubberizing playgrounds using ground-up recycled tires.

Although Trinity placed fifth among 44 applicants, its application was turned down because the playground is owned by a church. The state argued that approving the grant is using public funds to support religion and is prohibited by the state constitution.

The fact that the grant was for a playground that is open to the public didn’t matter.

ADF took up the case, which will be one of the first cases heard with the newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. The LCMS joined an amicus brief on the case in 2015.

The program with Holcomb will air at 2:30 p.m. (Central time) April 19 on Worldwide KFUO, and will stream online at kfuo.org.

Allen moderates such “Free to be Faithful” discussions on Worldwide KFUO the third Wednesday of each month.
Listen to the program
Posted April 18, 2017