The suit was filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of a graduating senior and several families in the district, challenges the Elmbrook School District’s decision to hold graduation ceremonies for Brookfield Central High School and Brookfield East High School at Elmbrook Church.

“Public schools should schedule graduation ceremonies at public venues where families of all faiths or none will feel welcome,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Some parents and children do not feel comfortable attending commencement in this religious setting. Graduation is too important to leave some families out.”

The graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 6 and 7.

The plaintiffs, who have chosen to remain anonymous, assert that they are extremely uncomfortable attending graduation at the church, given its religion-permeated environment.  The plaintiffs also feel unwelcome at the church because it teaches that non-Christians like the plaintiffs, and even some denominations of Christians, will go to Hell.

Elmbrook is a theologically conservative evangelical Christian church with strong views on contentious religious and political issues. The church says homosexuality is “not an acceptable lifestyle” and is “contrary to God’s will,” attacks atheists as people “who think they are smarter than God” and condemns TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey for promoting “a spirituality that is at fundamental odds with the historic biblical faith.”

The church displays a large cross in its sanctuary, and the facility includes other religious iconography as well. Church officials have refused to cover the cross. On at least one occasion, members of the church passed out religious literature to graduation attendees in the lobby, the suit said.

“Graduating seniors should not be forced to choose between entering a religious environment of a faith to which they do not subscribe and missing their own graduation,” said AU Senior Litigation Counsel Alex J. Luchenitser.

” Graduation should be a joyous occasion for students and their family members, and it should not be ruined by such religious coercion.”

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction barring the school district from holding its graduation ceremonies at Elmbrook Church or any other house of worship.

In its complaint, Americans United notes that there are other facilities available for graduation ceremonies and that virtually all of them are non-religious in nature.