Oakwood Adventist Academy Files Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against Alabama High School Athletic Association

Oakwood Adventist Academy has filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), alleging that the organization failed to accommodate its Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. The lawsuit was filed on May 3, 2022, following a dispute over scheduling playoff games during the Sabbath, which Adventists observe from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

On February 19, 2022, Oakwood forfeited its first-ever AHSAA playoff game because the scheduled time—4:30 p.m.—occurred before sundown on Saturday. The school requested to move the game to a later time, 7:30 p.m., after sundown. Despite other teams agreeing to adjust their schedules, the AHSAA denied the request twice.

Todd McFarland, associate general counsel for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, stated that the Sabbath holds significant importance for Adventist members. “The Sabbath is the day we stop our work, rest, and worship God. It is far more important to the members of the team to keep holy the Sabbath than play in any playoff game,” he said, according to the North American Division.

AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs noted that membership in the association is “100% voluntary” and that Oakwood was aware of the schedule when it joined. He stated that the school had agreed in writing to participate in all playoff games without petition or forfeit, and the AHSAA had accepted this agreement in writing.

The lawsuit claims the AHSAA showed religious discrimination by refusing to accommodate Oakwood’s beliefs, citing “bureaucratic intransigence” as the reason. It also notes that the AHSAA considers other religious practices when scheduling games, such as avoiding Sundays due to the “religious practices of many Alabamians.” However, the organization did not adjust its schedule to accommodate the Sabbath for Oakwood Adventist Academy.

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