Would You Hire a Gay Youth Pastor?
If you wouldn’t, you might be found guilty of discrimination. That’s what happened to the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford, when he refused 42-year-old John Reaney, an open homosexual, a job as a youth worker.
A gay man has won his case for unlawful discrimination after he was refused a job as a youth worker by the Church of England.
The employment tribunal ruled John Reaney, 42, was discriminated against “on the grounds of sexual orientation” by the Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance.
During the tribunal hearing, Mr Reaney said he was questioned by the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, on his previous gay relationship during a meeting in July last year.
. . .
Three days after the meeting, the Bishop telephoned Mr Reaney to say his application had not been successful.
Bishop Priddis told the tribunal he had made clear to Mr Reaney that a person in a committed sexual relationship outside of marriage, whether they were heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transgender, would be turned down for the role.
Today Mr Reaney said he was delighted to have won his case, which was backed and financed by gay lobby group Stonewall.
Read the whole article at the Telegraph.
I wonder when this will happen in the US.
See also:
- Bindmans:
- Ekklesia: Call for bishop’s resignation after gay dicrimination verdict
- ThisIsLondon: Why I barred gay worker, by the bishop
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James Love
No I would not. The important lesson for Christian communities is that they must ask questions about sexual holiness of all candidates as a regular practice. What seemed to be at issue was the people without same sex attraction were not asked about their sexual abstinence. Every person being hired must be asked the same question. “Are you having sexual relations outside of holy matrimony?” “Have you ever had sexual relations outside of holy matrimony and if so, with whom?” This last question will also deal with adultery since that is a bigger sin than homogenital sex (sexual sin plus betrayal of a vow).
Denominations must also be very clear that the same sexual standards apply to persons of different sexual orientations (I don’t like orientation language since it is misleading, however for sake of clarity it must be used). For example, a clause stating “persons employed by the church, regardless of orientation must abstain from genital sexual activity except in the case of opposite sex holy matrimony.” This would likely satisfy issues of equality before the law. The Anglicans were not clear on this issue and did not apply their questions of sexual holiness to hetrosexuals. This is where they fell down.
Jul 21st, 2007 12:17 am