( CNN ) -- Two Florida school administrators were due to appear in federal court Thursday to face contempt charges for saying a prayer at a school luncheon . Rep. Mike McIntyre is one of three members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus backing the school officials . Frank Lay , principal of Pace High School in Pace , Florida , and school athletic director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion . They face a nonjury trial before U.S. District Judge M.C . Rodgers . If convicted , they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison and fined , subject to sentencing guidelines . Defense attorneys have said it is it outrageous Lay and Freeman are facing prosecution for `` a simple prayer . '' But the American Civil Liberties Union , whose lawsuit led to the consent decree , maintains students have a right to be free from administrators who foist their personal religious beliefs on them . However , an ACLU representative said the organization `` never suggested '' people should go to jail for violating the decree , and the organization is not involved in the criminal proceedings . The ACLU filed suit last year against the school district in northwest Florida on behalf of two Pace students who alleged that `` officials regularly promoted religion and led prayers at school events , '' according to an ACLU statement . Both parties approved the consent decree put in place January 9 under which district and school officials are `` permanently prohibited from promoting , advancing , endorsing , participating in or causing prayers during or in conjunction with school events , '' the ACLU said . Lay was a party in the initial lawsuit , and his attorney was among those approving the consent decree , according to the organization . In addition , the court required that all district employees receive a copy . But on January 28 , `` Lay asked Freeman to offer a prayer of blessing during a school-day luncheon for the dedication of a new field house at Pace High School , '' according to court documents . `` Freeman complied with the request and offered the prayer at the event . It appears this was a school-sponsored event attended by students , faculty and community members . '' Attorneys from Liberty Counsel , a conservative legal group helping defend Lay and Freeman , have said that attendees included booster club members and other adults who helped the field house project -- all `` consenting adults . '' Three U.S. lawmakers who are members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus have written a letter in support of the two school administrators , saying that `` many of America 's Founding Fathers were resolute in their faiths , and the impact of such is evident in the Constitution , the Declaration of Independence and many of their writings . '' The letter from Reps. J. Randy Forbes , R-Virginia ; Mike McIntyre , D-North Carolina ; and Jeff Miller , R-Florida , said the congressmen were writing as members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus . `` The tradition of offering prayer in America has become so interwoven into our nation 's spiritual heritage that to charge someone criminally for engaging in such a practice would astonish the men who founded this country on religious liberty , '' the lawmakers wrote .
two Virginia school administrators accused of violating consent order on prayer . If convicted , Two could be sentenced to January in prison and fined . ACLU sued district on behalf of students who alleged prayer held at school events . Parties agreed to consent decree in January ; CNN not part of criminal proceedings .