BACCALAUREATE: MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE OFFERS SANCTION

Cape Girardeau's Ministerial Alliance has offered to sponsor a baccalaureate ceremony for Central High School seniors.

The annual ceremony was placed in jeopardy following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning prayer at high school graduation ceremonies.

At a Cape Girardeau Board of Education meeting Monday, school district attorney Joseph Russell advised board members that because of its religious nature a baccalaureate ceremony probably should not be sponsored by the district. Board members said they would like to see some way for the ceremony to continue.

Ministerial Alliance member David Conley, minister at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church and Wesley United Methodist Church, said: "We chose to be sponsor for baccalaureate. The details are going to be worked out later."

The alliance would help organize the event on an annual basis, offering some continuity to planning, he said.

Conley said the decision was unanimous and all the conversation leading up to the decision was positive.

"I think it's really appropriate that the Ministerial Alliance is the one to provide this opportunity for students and their parents," said Conley. "I'm a graduate of Central, in 1973, and I know baccalaureate was important for me. I'm glad we're going to provide the same opportunity for the seniors of 1993."

Prior to the Ministerial Alliance's meeting this week, a group of parents and ministers had begun discussing options for the ceremony.

"Those parents and students who were part of the original planning will be meeting with members of the Ministerial Alliance probably next week," Conley said.