Posted on 05/17/2012 12:32:51 PM PDT by QT3.14
Last October, news broke that Shorter University, a Christian college in Rome, Georgia, had decided to ask its employees to sign a controversial pledge that affirms that they are not engaging in homosexuality, among other forbidden activities. Now, after scores of employees refused to sign the document, the college, which is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention, has reportedly received a massive number of resignations
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
The way I read it, it would prohibit the use of alcohol in public places. Not sure what I missed.
As far as I can see, no, it is not:
"3. I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality."
The school is asking employees to profess the principles of Biblical sexual morality, not pledge to be sinless in that regard. No Christian should have a problem with that.
On the other hand, the pledges indicates that the signer promises to not drink in public, presumably in accordance with the school's theology, and as examples for the student body. Strict but not unreasonable given the school's beliefs.
Right, beer drinkers are everywhere, good riddance.........
It is good to see the Southern Baptists maintain their standards.
For decades we have watched as the Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopals, and Lutherans watered down their standards to a point that anything goes. The result for these denominations has been major membership losses. These churches are 1/2 of what they were 50 years ago.
Meanwhile, the Southern Baptists have doubled in size over the past 50 years.
I support what this college has done!!!!!
Or in a public place, which you neglected in your post.
Cannot go to an Italian restaurant and get a glass of red wine to go with your pasta.
I read recently that employers have been asking employees for access to their Facebook page. Personally I won’t have a Facebook page because I do not put my life out there for all to see. Had a boss asked me for my Facebook page And had I had one, I would have told said boss to stick it or if I really needed the money I would have LIED and said I did not have one, right after I eliminated my name and other ID on it.
It is no one’s business what I do in my off time. Individual freedom being the heart of the US Constitution
Being a pragmatist and having to feed my family I might lie to keep a job
long enough to find another job. I feel a sense or responsibility to my employer to do a good job at the task I was hired for. After that all bets are off
50 jobs open at a Christian university!!
My friends went to a college that called that "MISSIONS". Intercultural isn't always a bad thing, there, Vet. :)
The difference is there is no massive cultural push to make theft (for example) acceptable.
“The pledge I read does not prohibit a beer with dinner ...”
It does if the dinner is in a public place, like a restaurant.
So true!
They are so brave that they waited eight months (end of the school year) to actually resign.
Admittedly I didn’t read the article, but while on its face this action seems pretty cool, if you are a solid Christian who simply resents being bullied on the job about something you do not do in the first place there’s a problem.
Why doesn’t the college have a simple morals clause that new hires have to sign off on to be hired, one that addresses the college’s behavior Christian requirements?
This in your face signature stuff, after the fact, is quite an invasion of privacy good people resent.
They can all get jobs at LGBTU.
It's a theological point of view; surely you've heard about Baptists and other denominations who either don't believe in drinking or strongly discourage it?
It's not a view I hold but it's not polite to mock it and not really the place to debate the theology.
“When was the last time you marches and parades and demonstrations in support of gossips, liars, thieves, people with critical attitudes?”
Actually, if anyone has it, just post the picture of Pelosi walking around with her sinful entourage and gavel. That’s EXACTLY the picture that came to mind the second I read your post.
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Apparently you did not read the whole thing.
4. I will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and I will abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the general public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues, stadiums, and sports facilities) and in settings in which students are present or are likely to be present. I will not attend any University sponsored event in which I have consumed alcohol within the last six hours. Neither will I promote or encourage the use of alcohol.
“and depriving the workman of his just wages”
...In other words, an Income tax.
I think the "public" thing is done to keep "a brother from falling" as St. Paul said in Corinthians.
Let's think about something a second: all Christians are sinners saved by grace.
There are Christians who are sinners in every respect:
liars, cheaters, drunkards, thiefs, prostitutes, homosexuals, murderers, you name it....NONE of us are perfect....but we repent and follow Him and turn from our wicked ways.
What a wonderful God we have!
“It is no one’s business what I do in my off time.”
There are scores of court cases that suggest you are incorrect. There is no blanket Constitutional protection for an employee’s activities “off the clock” to which an employer objects, especially in “employment-at-will” states.
Here, this is taken directly from Paragraph #4 which I posted previously:
"I will abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the general public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues, stadiums, and sports facilities)"
I hope that makes it clearer now......As far as I know, beer is still considered an alcoholic beverage, is it not?
.
“Nothing wrong with a university making a set of rules its administration thinks is appropriate.”
There is nothing illegal about such rules, as long as they don’t violate a Constitutional right. Of course, not everything that is “legal” is “right” from an HR perspective.
It’s not a view I hold but it’s not polite to mock it and not really the place to debate the theology.
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I disagree. The poster to whom I responded (pinging NELSON!!!) suggested that they were being held to Biblical standards. NELSON111’s words “They basically asked their staff to adhere to the Bible”.
Had the poster suggested that it was the Baptist’s rules I would not have commented. But that was not the claim made.
And you’ll have to let me know where I mocked the Baptist theology. It is not mocking anybody to note the specifics of Jesus’ first miracle.
Of course not but the issue according to the The Blaze is the homosexuality clause.
Which as I stated previously, was a red herring when it was likely the employees disagreed with and couldn't comply with the fourth paragraph........
The blaze was negligent in their reporting in order to promote the article......that's all I'm saying
I would assume that thieves and liars are dealt with appropriately already. Gossips and critical attitudes are probably also dealt with through progressive discipline.
When in Rome... Or should it be ... When not in Rome?
Guarantee that many Freepers would have problems with this pledge.
1. I will be loyal to the mission of Shorter University as a Christ-centered institution affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention. - I have no idea what that means. However, it could include not dancing on Sunday, among other things.
2. I will not engage in the use, sale, possession, or production of illegal drugs. - I would have no problems with that, but I would expect that some Freepers might.
3. I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality - Again I would have no problems. However what it means is that the only sexual activity is sex with your wife in the missionary position without protection. (or any other birth control)
4. I will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and I will abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the general public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues, stadiums, and sports facilities) and in settings in which students are present or are likely to be present. I will not attend any University sponsored event in which I have consumed alcohol within the last six hours. Neither will I promote or encourage the use of alcohol. - I don’t drink so it would be no problem, but a lot of Freepers are hard drinking types.
Yes, and a lot of other stuff as well.
at least they know who are traitors
Now they can hire faculty that actually uphold their values.
Maybe the Catholics will like this idea.
“How about having sex before married? Is it part of the pledge too?”
yep
What do you think that “premarital sex” meanss?
The title misrepresents what the pledge is actually asking them to do. They are not signing a pledge that says they are not homosexual. They are pledging that they reject as acceptable any sexual activity that is not Biblical. Specifically listed are premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality. And the pledge is qualified by saying “including but not limited to” these three. So presumably they might also consider masturbation or some other sexual practice as being required to be rejected.
And homosexuality isn’t even the first thing that is listed. The top of the list is premarital sex—because most people are heterosexual so that is the more widely practiced perversion of Biblical teaching.
Well, kinda... (while they absolutely should have the right to require it for their employees,) the alcohol use provisions are certainly extra-Biblical. But that's the Baptist culture, particularly in the deep South.
This is a Baptist thang.
I believe the Bible itself does not go that far. This would include Jesus after He came back from one of his tavern ministries. No I don’t buy the Baptist “fresh grape juice” explanation of what Jesus ingested at such meetings. That would be a specialty item for the weeks of the grape harvest. Beyond that, nyet. No refrigeration or pasteurization existed. You would not find bottles of Welch’s in Palestine.
The biggest lie ever is “everyone does it”
They did not go after one sin. The media just focuses on one.
And the biggest fool ever is the one who denies it.....
They insist that their staff adhere to their interpretation of the Bible.
I, and others on this forum may disagree with their interpretation of the Bible as regards, for example, alcoholic beverages.
That's beside the point. They're following the Bible as best they see fit, and I applaud them for doing it.
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34 The Son of man [Jesus] is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
The NIV and ESV versions translate that word as 'drunkard' - in other words, Jesus was accused of being a drunk because he hung out with those who did... never mind that wine was practically the only beverage available (that wasn't the point of the passage, by the way, but it makes the point for this thread: Jesus drank the stuff, too!)
So that's the only provision I would personally object to - that they purport to holding a Biblical line on behavior, but are so wrong about this particular provision.
Gotcha.
Good point.
As far as I recall, the Bible doesn't say anything for or against about beer, whisky, vodka, tequila, rum, gin, or ouzo.
Drunkenness is condemned in the Bible. The policy doesn’t require them to refrain from taking alcohol in moderation on their own time, on their own property. It requires them not to drink with students or in public places. Seems like a reasonable balance for a Baptist university.
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