The distribution of Bibles in six schools in Tennessee has been banned after a complaint has been filed.
Jennifer Terry, superintendent of the Bledsoe County Schools in Pikeville, believes that distributing the Holy Scripture violates the U.S. Constitution.
"Bledsoe County Schools do not allow the distribution of religious materials from any religious groups. The distribution of religious materials in a public school is in violation of constitutional provisions and well established federal and state laws and precedence," she explained, according to the Christian News Network.
Gideons International in Tennessee distributes Bibles to schools for free as it does to hotels, fire halls, army bases and hospitals.
With the decision, it can no longer offer Bibles to fifth graders under Bledsoe County Schools.
"We simply go in and we lay it on the table. We tell them what it is and who we are. If they want one, they freely take one. We do not hand it to them, they take it freely and voluntarily," Charlie Queen, chaplain for Sequatchie Valley Camp of Gideons, told WRCB-TV.
Queen describes the ban as a "loss of freedom."
"I look at it more as a loss of a freedom more so than anything else," said Queen. "We are right here on Veterans Day.... people have fought, sacrificed and died for their country and for these freedoms. Now another one is trying to be taken away; that's what breaks my heart."
Pastor Bill Wolfe of the Lee Station Baptist Church said his "whole congregation is very upset."
"We're sliding further and further away from the principles our nation was founded on and it's very sad because we used to be 'One Nation under God'. Now, I really believe we are slipping further away and we're not going to be able to say that much longer," he lamented.
He warned, "They're not going to stop at Bledsoe county. It will come to Sequatchie county, Cumberland county, Rhea county and all of the surrounding counties here. They're going to try and stop it everywhere."
Residents are planning to hold a protest at the next school board meeting. School officials said they have a Bible History subject which includes a textbook.
On the other hand, students are allowed to bring Bible to school.
