State wrong in denying theology scholarship

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state of Washington wrongly denied a scholarship to a college student who wanted to pursue a degree in theology, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 18.

Joshua Davey was awarded a “Promise Scholarship” in 1999 but was then denied it after he declared a major in pastoral ministries at Northwest College, an Assemblies of God school in Kirkland, Wash. The state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) said it denied the scholarship because state law barred funding of religious instruction. Davey had appealed his case after a district court ruled in the state’s favor.