School agrees not to display disputed Jesus portrait

October 9, 2006

(RNS) A West Virginia public school board agreed Friday (Oct. 6) not to display a portrait of Jesus or other devotional art at its high school.

The settlement coincided with a decision by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union to drop a joint lawsuit against the Harrison County school board. The district will not be requested to pay attorneys' fees, costs or other expenses incurred in the legal action thus far.

"This settlement sends a message to public school officials all across the country that they should respect the diversity of their students and not take sides on religious matters," the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said in a statement.

Warner Sallman's famous "Head of Christ" portrait had hung on a wall at Bridgeport High School for 37 years. A Jewish father, Harold Sklar, and Bridgeport resident Jacqueline McKenzie filed suit in June to block the portrait.

The board voted 4-1 to settle the suit by promising never to display any renderings of Jesus, religious iconography or other devotional artwork featuring teachers, philosophers, religious or inspirational leaders.

On Aug. 17, someone stole the painting that started the controversy and it is still missing. Students associated with the Christian Freedom Alliance filled the void by donating an inscribed mirror to their new principal on Sept. 1.

The brass plate on the mirror read, "... to know the will of God is the highest of all wisdoms, the love of Jesus Christ lives within all of us." The plaque was removed shortly after the mirror was hung at the school.

Gary McCaleb, senior counsel for the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, which supported the portrait, said, "This lawsuit never would have seen the light of day if the First Amendment was applied today as it was intended to be by our Founding Fathers."

-- Chansin Bird