Advice on situation

1. Just for you to know, there is a Christian Advice forum here. Ask the mods politely to move it and it can be done for you

2. Unfortunately, I fear there isn't much that you can do. You can tell your daughter's coach the situation, but when it comes to sports and clubs like that, times are chosen around the coach's/instructor's/leader's schedule or around general availability of the majority of the members. Either way, Sunday has been picked and as such, I doubt there is going to be any budging: your daughter may be forced to pick between color guard or worship (we all know which is the right choice, but make it up to her).

I would, however, add that you should research whether this particular color guard has official affiliation with a school. Particularly if it is a state school, you may be able to discuss the matter who is in a higher position than the coach if you don't get a favorable reply from him/her. Learn how (you should have already truly, but this is a great way to now) the school's polity runs: talk to the school's director of athletics and, if you have to, the district's (to give an example). Only once all options have been explored without success should you culminate with the option given above: worship or color guard.

My sympathies with your situation. A 12 year-old young woman shouldn't be put in this sort of situation, but sadly, sometimes people don't think about when practices should be or when the majority are available, the minority have to make a difficult decision. Best of luck to your daughter and you.

I know it seems ironic, but you might want to contact the ACLU:

The ACLU vigorously defends the rights of all Americans to practice their religion. But because the ACLU is often better known for its work preventing the government from promoting and funding selected religious activities, it is sometimes wrongly assumed that the ACLU does not zealously defend the rights of all religious believers to practice their faith. The actions described below – over half of which were brought on behalf of self-identified Christians, with the remaining cases defending the rights of a wide range of minority faiths – reveal just how mistaken such assumptions are. (The list below includes examples from the past decade only.) ACLU Defends Religious Practice and Expression - Cases, Laws, Events | American Civil Liberties Union

It may be a tough fight, but Thekla's position might be worth exploring, although, with respect given to both of you, I'm not sure any laws are being violated...

Still, Thekla's information about the ACLU is spot-on. They are too often accused of "anti-Christian bigotry" when they've helped Christians (and others) so often. I don't say the above lightly or out of sense of quashing hope. If you feel it might work, all power to you.

Again, best of luck to you and your daughter.

I recommend you to get more parents in your situation, and to put a complain in the board of education of your county, Muslims have now prayer breaks in the USA mandatory by the counties because it's their religion, I don't see why you should have a problem as Christianity is the primary religion of the USA.

Greek Orthodox-

I've never known a coach whose influence over those under his charge was limited to the particular activity he (or she) was coaching. You may have an atheist who has a penchant for 'pushing' others into his ideology, especially since he has deliberately put it in writing that church services are not to be put before his practices.

GreekOrthodox said:

Morning,

I'm just trying to get a feel for what our rights might be. My 12 yr old daughter is in a school-associated (I do not believe that they are officially sponsored by the school) color guard. The coach has practices on Sunday from 10:30am to 5pm. Our church normally runs from 9:30 to around 11:30 and then we drop her off. We don't have alternative times to go to. Last night, he has now made the practices mandatory and wouldn't discuss our previous arrangement with me. I've never encountered an organization where they wouldn't make some accommodation for religious activities. Any ideas?

Brian

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Could you drop your daughter off on the way ? She would do homework or something while waiting .

Overall , if you cannot or will not meet their criteria , she cannot be involved . It is just like your religious group that has demands to be met . You decide to meet them or you are not a member .

GreekOrthodox said:

We emailed the coach and we worked it out with him for us to go to church. Our daughter had misunderstood some of what he said. Some of the other girls had been using church as an excuse to skip practice but they werent actually going to church. He is happy with us dropping her off after services.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

Brian

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Thanks for the update !

Church > Extracurricular activities. If you encourage the color guard over church, what kind of example is that setting for her?

Just saw your last update...glad the coach is willing to work with ya'll

GreekOrthodox said:

We emailed the coach and we worked it out with him for us to go to church. Our daughter had misunderstood some of what he said. Some of the other girls had been using church as an excuse to skip practice but they werent actually going to church. He is happy with us dropping her off after services.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

Brian

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I am thrilled that all worked out.

I am disappointed that the coach was given such a runaround from others. Personally, I am rather offended that anyone would use church, mosque, synagogue, or anything else, as a false excuse to get out of something. It only gives those who are honest about a religious life a hard time later, as your daughter might have experienced if things went differently. Certainly, we can all use this story as a reminder.

Best of luck to her in the color guard. It is good to see that the coach was amicable; he's a good role model and I'm sure we can all learn a lot from his example.

PaladinValer said:

I am thrilled that all worked out.

I am disappointed that the coach was given such a runaround from others. Personally, I am rather offended that anyone would use church, mosque, synagogue, or anything else, as a false excuse to get out of something. It only gives those who are honest about a religious life a hard time later, as your daughter might have experienced if things went differently. Certainly, we can all use this story as a reminder.

Best of luck to her in the color guard. It is good to see that the coach was amicable; he's a good role model and I'm sure we can all learn a lot from his example.

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Being completely honest here...I have trouble believing it was a gaggle of 12 year old girls that gave the coach the runaround. Frankly, I'm guessing it was the parents via the children.

But, agreed, good on the coach.

Tonks said:

Being completely honest here...I have trouble believing it was a gaggle of 12 year old girls that gave the coach the runaround. Frankly, I'm guessing it was the parents via the children.

But, agreed, good on the coach.

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I was referring to the parents. Perhaps I didn't make that very clear...oops!

Good to see you back!