A group of local pastors says Wake County families shouldn’t be forced to choose between their faith and attending Sunday morning high school graduation ceremonies.

The Raleigh Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance calls Sunday morning graduations “disrespectful and also insensitive to all the Wake County citizens who worship on Sunday mornings.” The group of predominantly African-American ministers has asked the Wake school system to stop scheduling graduations before 1 p.m. on Sundays.

“Slowly, secular institutions and businesses have encroached upon Sunday morning worship for financial gain, convenience and for other reasons,” the Rev. William Newkirk said on behalf of the alliance at Tuesday’s school board meeting. “We don’t think public schools should join those ranks.”

North Carolina’s largest school system isn’t the only group being targeted by the ministers. The Rev. David Forbes, president of the alliance, said in an interview Wednesday that the ministers also plan to ask businesses to not open on Sunday mornings and civic groups to stop scheduling Sunday morning activities.

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