About BCOA

In 1988, two of my friends at McKinley High School in Buffalo, NY asked if I would be interested in starting a Bible Club with them. The purpose of this club was to get together after school and read the Bible and talk about it. We also wanted to pray for our school, classmates, and faculty. To our surprise, with the recommendation from the City of Buffalo attorneys, The McKinley Bible Club was denied.

The Buffalo media picked up our story, and a local law firm volunteered to act as our attorneys. Before we could file suit the Buffalo School Board took action and decided to sue us for legality over the Equal Access Act. After several years of court battles, our case was included in the 1990 United States Supreme Court case Mergens versus The Board of Education of Westside Community Schools. The Supreme Court ruled in our favor.

The difference that helped our case regarding the Supreme Courts ruling meant that the City of Buffalo violated our civil rights. Our attorneys filed for punitive damages. The award could have been substantial, but since we didn't do this for money, our attorneys settled the lawsuit in an agreement that locks in our decision and allows kids in any school in the City of Buffalo and the United States to have a Bible club.

We had our challenges in 1988. High schoolers today face more difficulties than ever. There is a greater need for the gospel in our schools today than there has ever been. We need to inspire and challenge our youth of today to be that light in their schools. Bible Clubs of America is an organization dedicated to inspiring and equipping our young people to go into their schools and start Bible clubs within the parameters of the Equal Access Act.

We provide resources and tools to face the challenges of starting clubs. Even though kids have the constitutional right to hold Bible clubs in public schools, School districts are still pushing back. They are doing things to circumvent the Equal Access Act to prevent clubs from starting.

Bible Clubs Of America is that resource. With over 25 years of leadership experience, as executive director, my mission is to serve our youth and tear down the barriers they may face when starting Bible clubs in their schools.

-Ken Dudek