Jay Manda, parent of three children currently attending the school, told CNA that "Trinity Lutheran submitted the proper paperwork and there was no clause about being excluded because of religious affiliation."
"My kids are getting a fantastic education at the school and would have benefitted if the school had received the grant," Manda said. "To deny the school the grant because of religious reasons is unfair and unfounded."
In January 2013, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit on behalf of Trinity Lutheran Church against the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Both a district court and an appellate court sided with the natural resources department, ruling that the decision to deny program participation to the child care center was justified.
Alliance Defending Freedom disagrees.
"Rubber scrap tires do not advance religion," ADF senior counsel Erik Stanley told CNA. "If this decision stands, it will bode poorly for churches and mean they can potentially be excluded from a variety of other programs and services."
"If you can categorically exclude religious groups from anything, you will be able to justify discrimination against them," added Stanley. "And that is unconstitutional."
Last year, 10 states filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Trinity Lutheran Church. They argue that state programs that are neutral should not be allowed to discriminate against religious groups.
Stanley believes this case has garnered support from so many states because there is so much at stake.
"This case isn't really about recycled tires," Stanley said. "It is about whether the state can discriminate against churches and what that means for society as a whole."
"It's also about how churches can and should be treated. This broader principle at stake is vitally important for churches going forward."
Glenn agreed, saying, "It's not about the money the grant would have provided. We could have backpedaled a long time ago but chose not to."
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
"It's about the principle," he continued. "Christian organizations are no different than other organizations. And we have the same constitutional rights."
Photo credit: momente via www.shutterstock.com.