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Shorter University, a Christian Baptist school in Rome, Ga., is forcing its 200 employees to sign a statement declaring that they reject homosexuality. Anyone who doesn't sign the pledge risks losing their jobs.

Atlanta’s WSBTV reports that employees who sign the "personal lifestyle pledge" also must reject premarital sex and adultery, and other behavior the school deems to violate the Bible’s teachings. The statement also bans drug use and drinking alcohol in the presence of students, and requires employees to be active in local churches. The lifestyle statement was adopted by the school's board of trustees last month and presented to employees three days later, on Oct. 24.

All new employees will have to sign the pledge upon being hired, and all current employees will have to sign it in order to renew their contract. The pledge notifies employees that they can be fired for violating the new policy.

An anonymous employee voiced his/her concerns to the Georgia Voice:

"A question about these things is how they will be enforced. We now will live in fear that someone who doesn't like us personally or someone who has had a bad day will report that we've been drinking or that we are suspected of being gay. What happens then? There is no defined process and even if there were, there is no way to absolutely prove or disprove the accusation."

Shorter President Don Dowless told WSBTV that the goal wasn’t to offend people, and that lots of Christian schools have similar pledges. "These are biblical positions," he said.

School officials say that since the school doesn’t receive federal funding, it believes its actions are perfectly legal.

Skjellyfetti wrote:School officials say that since the school doesn’t receive federal funding, it believes its actions are perfectly legal.

89Hen wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:School officials say that since the school doesn’t receive federal funding, it believes its actions are perfectly legal.

You can debate the ethical part of it, but not the legal.

clenz wrote:
Would people like skelly be upset if it was some extreme liberal school making people sign contracts that force them to engage in homosexual activity?

Skjellyfetti wrote:

clenz wrote:
Would people like skelly be upset if it was some extreme liberal school making people sign contracts that force them to engage in homosexual activity?

Uhhhhhhhhh. Yes.

WTF.

clenz wrote:Would people like skelly be upset if it was some extreme liberal school making people sign contracts that force them to engage in homosexual activity?

clenz wrote: A private college says that if you don't sign their new contract you might get fired. The new contract states that the person must renounce all things related to creationism, Christian, etc... If they are caught engaging in a church, talking about creationism, not enforcing the big bang/evolution, etc....


Is that something you would lead a protest against?

Skjellyfetti wrote:

clenz wrote: A private college says that if you don't sign their new contract you might get fired. The new contract states that the person must renounce all things related to creationism, Christian, etc... If they are caught engaging in a church, talking about creationism, not enforcing the big bang/evolution, etc....


Is that something you would lead a protest against?

Most definitely.

Grizalltheway wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:
Uhhhhhhhhh. Yes.

WTF.

Yeah, that was a Z-worthy analogy, clenz.

andy7171 wrote:Why would a gay person choose to go to or work for a place that has such beliefs?

andy7171 wrote:Why would a gay person choose to go to or work for a place that has such beliefs?

"The bottom line is that I am a gay Christian and I made a decision to be around other Christians. I'm not alone and it is sad to see organizations shun people like me. I'd assume that if you're a strong Christian, you wouldn't need to turn those away who sin and instead you'd welcome them with open arms because they love Jesus," - an anonymous employee at Shorter University, where a new policy has made being gay (in addition to public drinking and not attending church) a fireable offense.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

andy7171 wrote:Why would a gay person choose to go to or work for a place that has such beliefs?

Many gay people CURRENTLY work there... and, in this economy - you hold on to what job you have.

"The bottom line is that I am a gay Christian and I made a decision to be around other Christians. I'm not alone and it is sad to see organizations shun people like me. I'd assume that if you're a strong Christian, you wouldn't need to turn those away who sin and instead you'd welcome them with open arms because they love Jesus," - an anonymous employee at Shorter University, where a new policy has made being gay (in addition to public drinking and not attending church) a fireable offense.

from Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish this morning

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:they don't get any federal money... they are in Bob Jones territory... that's their choice... it's messed up, but it's their choice.

so long as they get no government money (including students not getting federally subsidize student aid) - they have the right.

CitadelGrad wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:they don't get any federal money... they are in Bob Jones territory... that's their choice... it's messed up, but it's their choice.

so long as they get no government money (including students not getting federally subsidize student aid) - they have the right.

What about private all-female colleges that have students who receive federally subsidized student aid? Do you think Wellesley is in compliance with the law? If so, why were VMI and The Citadel forced to admit women?

CitadelGrad wrote:

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:they don't get any federal money... they are in Bob Jones territory... that's their choice... it's messed up, but it's their choice.

so long as they get no government money (including students not getting federally subsidize student aid) - they have the right.

What about private all-female colleges that have students who receive federally subsidized student aid? Do you think Wellesley is in compliance with the law? If so, why were VMI and The Citadel forced to admit women?