Private Christian college makes employees sign pledge

[kpmom]

rejecting homosexuality, adultery, and pre-marital sex, or be fired.

The school says they can do this because they do not accept federal funds.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/31/ge ... latestnews

[Brainsample]

Alright, what if your daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock or if one of your kids turns up homosexual and they live in your home? Do they fire you? What if you sin, and didn't "adhere to a lifestyle" but had a moment of weakness? Do they fire you, or do you get an opportunity to repent?

[Kelya]

Stupid, but not unheard of, I think Moody Bible Institute does something similar.

I know of private, nonreligious schools who make their teachers sign conduct agreements about not doing pornography, behaving in a manner embarrassing to the school, etc.

I think its all a load of crap but it is fairly common around here.

[AlexIsAwake]

I'm actually surprised they don't already make the students pledge they aren't gay. That will probably be next.

Someone should show this to them. It's the argument that FINALLY convinced me once and for all that the Bible does not definitively condemn homosexuality as we know it today - normal people like me in normal, committed relationships. http://www.soulforce.org/resources/what ... sexuality/

[Brainsample]

I'm actually surprised they don't already make the students pledge they aren't gay. That will probably be next.

Someone should show this to them. It's the argument that FINALLY convinced me once and for all that the Bible does not definitively condemn homosexuality as we know it today - normal people like me in normal, committed relationships. http://www.soulforce.org/resources/what ... sexuality/

I bet that it is part of the admission process.

[treemom]

Liberty does it.

[mystweaver]

I didn't know there were Christian colleges that didn't do this.

[GenerationCedarchip]

I'm more surprised this is making the news than anything else. I know private, nonreligious colleges that have similar conduct codes professors have to sign. I have a cousin who is a college professor and he started off at Baylor (baptist college) where he had to sign a code of conduct saying that he wouldn't drink, engage in extramarital sex, commit crimes or dance(the horror!). From what I've heard, other schools have similar things.

[kayray]

I didn't know there were Christian colleges that didn't do this.

This.

I have also seen these sorts of pledges for employees at Catholic and some other religious-based elementary - high schools.

[Marian the Librarian]

There's a Christian college in my area that requires a written statement regarding one's "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" from every job applicant.

[longskirtlotsakids]

Why are they only concerned with sins that involve the wee-wee? How about some regarding, oh MURDER, child molestation, embezzlement, lying, etc?

[Austin]

There's a Christian college in my area that requires a written statement regarding one's "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" from every job applicant.

I guess if you put "he really hasn't called me up in quite awhile", you'd probably not be considered, huh? lol

[wtfrenchtoast]

Wait, Baylor seriously has a no dancing clause? When was this, was it recently? I was accepted to Baylor, boy am I glad I didn't go. I have friends who go there, I'll have to ask if they're allowed to dance.

[StarrieEyedKat]

I guess if you put "he really hasn't called me up in quite awhile", you'd probably not be considered, huh? lol

Hah, my first thought was something about a one night stand. Guess we're both destined for the brimstone and fires of hell.

[ilovetchotchkes]

This is nothing new. The Catholic church has been doing something similar for YEARS.

When I went to the Dr as a teenager for painful menstrual periods, my mother, the doctor and I all had to sign a letter, I believe NOTARIZED in fact that the pill that was prescribed to me, Orthotrycyclin was NOT being used for contraceptive purposes.

I have a friend who works for the RCC now, and she's been trying for 12 years to have a baby. Her dr has finally said " you need to go Invitro" but if her work finds out about it, she'd get fired. She's thisclose to saying "fuck the job"

When I converted to Judaism, my mother had to "take a sick day" because if they found out, it could put her job in jeopardy. Not because her daughter was leaving, but because she would be appearing to condone it. (She also works for the RCC)

[Austin]

Hah, my first thought was something about a one night stand. Guess we're both destined for the brimstone and fires of hell.

Oh, yes, SEK. I'm sure I'm on a fast toboggan headed that way (at least that's what a church lady told me when I was about 12!)

[Marian the Librarian]

I guess if you put "he really hasn't called me up in quite awhile", you'd probably not be considered, huh? lol

Yeah, I thought about applying for a library position there once, and writing "He's really not all that into me..." ;)

[formerlyfundie]

My husband's school did this. He also had to get three "Christian references" to tell how Christian he is, had to write out a testimony, AND show them his marriage certificate with a backstory on us and our commitment to Christ as a family. It has been...interesting there for him so far. :?

[FundiesInMyFamily]

I worked a few years ago @ Macy's over the holidays, and worked with what I suspect was a fundie-light teenage girl from one of the local megachurches that also has a christian school attached with it. I remember she was so excited because they had been planning a trip to Europe, and she explained to me that her mother was a wine afficianado and was anticipating being able to drink wine again. I was really confused and asked her why they would have to go all the way to Europe to drink wine, and she gasped and explained to me (like it was obvious) that her mom was a teacher at this school and she couldn't ever been seen going into a liquor store or having wine in the house. What would people think?

I could never live in such a restrictive enviornment.

[alysee]

In my Catholic elementary school they were all nuns but once I hit highschool it was real teachers. They had to sign a contract to live a "Christ-like life" but of course every year you would hear all the weird things. Apparently the most recent one is a women teacher had a sexual relationship with a student who was 18. She is since fired. Last year it was one of the religion teachers and the music teacher divorced their spouses and started a relationship together.

[brashchick]

In my Catholic elementary school they were all nuns but once I hit highschool it was real teachers. They had to sign a contract to live a "Christ-like life" but of course every year you would hear all the weird things. Apparently the most recent one is a women teacher had a sexual relationship with a student who was 18. She is since fired. Last year it was one of the religion teachers and the music teacher divorced their spouses and started a relationship together.

Ahem, I believe the nuns are "real teachers" too. The ones I had in the 70s all had degrees (many masters degrees) in their fields. My English teacher in 9th and 11th grade was a nun and working on her PHD. I have met nuns who ran the gamut from abusive assholes who should never be around children to some of the most intellegent, educated, fun to be around women I have been lucky enough to know. The former were lousy teachers, but they were still "real" teachers with credentials.

[alysee]

They may have real degrees but they also had a pretty backwards "Pearl-like" way of dealing with issues, which I never had in high school.

[maybeizfundie]

As long as it's a private institution, not taking federal money, I'm not at all surprised nor particularly shocked or upset. They're small, private, and not taking fed funds for a reason, and want to have teachers who share their values. This is applicable to any religion or non-religious ideology, as well. If they want their institution to represent them, including the teachers, I don't see a problem with it. I might choose not to go there or to send my kids or work there, but they can do what they want.

[Tamen]

I work at a fundie-lite school, and ours is a blanket "anything violating the teachings of the Gospel" code. It's no surprise to anyone who applies there. Sometimes the complete lack of privacy is stifling, but I also focus on the fact students look up to me and ask me for advice. Their excitement about my relationship definitely helps to keep us "good."

[Joykins]

Morality clauses for teachers at Christian schools is nothing new. As long as they're privately funded, they have a right to hire people who share their values, especially as teachers are considered role models of sorts.