Next time around, pastor, try this ...

A religious rights attorney says there are ways to get around a ban imposed on an Ohio pastor from conducting Bible studies for students during their lunchtime.

Even though attendance at the Bible studies was voluntary, Pacific Justice Institute president Brad Dacus says Pastor Bobbyjon Bauman crossed the line by having regular Bible studies during school hours. But the attorney offers several options that are open to the pastor.

"First, you can have a student club where they rotate in three speakers on a regular basis. That's fine; that's constitutional," Dacus tells OneNewsNow. "In fact, that's even protected under the Equal Access Act." The PJI president says another option would be to start an after-school Bible group.

The Bible studies were halted after the Freedom From Religion Foundation was alerted to them on a Facebook post. Dacus offers a warning about social media posts.

"People need to be aware that when they post things on Facebook, it's fair game for others to look at," he says. "And organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation, they're just looking for prey, looking for opportunities ... to challenge what is otherwise accepted and welcomed by a local community."

Bauman reports that as many as 165 children attended the FCA Bible studies during lunch at Indian Creek Middle School.