Two months after Luther Rice College and Seminary filed suit in federal court, with help from attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom, the religious liberty law firm announced a settlement with the Georgia Student Finance Committee.
ADF attorney Ryan Tucker tells AFN the settlement “opens the door” to current Luther Rice students, and to future students, who were previously barred from a state program available to other Georgia students.
“So it's a real blessing for the school and certainly for the students of Georgia,” he says.
Luther Rice, a campus of 1,100 students, is a Baptist-affiliated private college near Atlanta. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Georgia’s student aid program did not completely exclude private religious colleges and universities in the state but it did exclude seminary campuses whose mission is preparing students for the ministry.
In its lawsuit, ADF argued the student aid program was unfairly discriminating against Luther Rice because it is considered “too religious” by the state.
In a statement, Luther Rice president Dr. Steven Steinhilber commended ADF and the state for reaching a “solution” to the lawsuit.
“I look forward to providing our Georgia residents an affordable biblically-based education that is so vital for our time,” he said.
