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Georgia high school football coach Isaac Ferrell is fired for holding BAPTISM on school grounds for his players

1 year ago 71
  • Isaac Ferrell has been fired as the football coach for Tattnall County High School
  • Ferrell hosted a baptism ceremony behind the field for 20 players on October 23
  • The school board has decided to keep him as a teacher in the district 

By Emma Richter For Dailymail.Com

Published: 00:22 GMT, 17 November 2023 | Updated: 00:53 GMT, 17 November 2023

A Georgia high school football coach was fired after he held a baptism on school grounds for his players. 

Isaac Ferrell was terminated from his coaching position at Tattnall County High School after 20 players were baptized on October 23 behind the Battle Creek Warriors football field by a local pastor. 

Ferrell has admitted to organizing the ceremony for the team after he posted videos of it on his Facebook that have since been deleted.  

Tattnall County Schools Superintendent Kristen Waters said Ferrell was fired from his coaching position after the baptism and another undisclosed incident but still works in the district as a teacher. 

Isaac Ferrell was terminated as the school's football coach but is still employed as a teacher in the district

A total of 20 players lined up to go inside the big black bucket of water and have their heads dunked under by a local pastor. Video of the baptisms were posted online

Waters told Fox28 that the high school is actively looking for a new football coach 'that better aligns with the district's interests.'

The video of the ceremony was also shared to the team's Facebook page as pastor Gary Few had each player sit in a large black tub of water while he dunked their heads under. 

'I baptize you now, my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,' Few said in the video. 

The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a 'state/church watchdog,' were informed of the baptism from a worried community member. 

Chris Line, the staff attorney for the foundation, sent a letter to Waters and requested the incident be investigated, saying that it was illegal under the First Amendment. 

He claimed the ceremony was a 'constitutional violation', and that Ferrell should not be allowed to baptize or preach religion to students. 

Line added the school district needed to 'refrain from infusing its football program with religion.'

According to the foundation's website, the 'FFRF works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.' 

The baptism ceremony was held behind the Battle Creek Warriors football field on October 23 

Tattnall County Schools Superintendent Kristen Waters decided to terminate Ferrell as a coach and said that the school is looking for a new one 'that better aligns with the district's interests'

Gary Few, a local pastor, ran the baptism ceremony on October 23 

Though Ferrell's decision was frowned upon by the district, many who saw the event on social media praised the coach's and pastor's actions. 

One commenter said: 'That coach is changing lives.. not just winning games!' 

Latifa Johnson, a parent of one of the players who got baptized, told WSAV: 'I was extremely proud of him because he made the decision on his own.'

'I didn't have to hold his hand, and he did it because he wanted to.'

Ferrell's decision was widely supported, but others on social media chimed in and said: 'Good. He should be fired. Keep your religion to yourself!'

In an Instagram post shared by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a commenter said: 'This sh** pisses me off. And you know there was pressure for the boys to do it. If someone baptized my child at school I'd be LIVID.'

Waters added Ferrell was forced to step down from his coaching position following a separate incident that took place on November 3. 

The district did not disclose what happened, but that it occurred after a football game on that day. 

DailyMail.com reached out to Ferrell for comment but he did not respond in time for this report. 

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