In these schools, we follow the teachings of Jesus as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Which understanding apparently doesn't include the concept of forgiveness, and requires immediate expulsion from fellowship of anyone who commits a sin, even if they repent of it.
I'm not a Christian, but I've read the New Testament, and am familiar with a wide range of interpretations of Christian teachings, and I think these folks are missing some key points. It's not as if this teacher was flouting the beliefs of this church, saying she didn't believe there was anything wrong with what she did. The take-home message from this school's administration is that if you get pregnant outside marriage, better get an abortion quickly and quietly, or we'll fire you (or expel you, or whatever's applicable).
Apparently the fact that this is a terrible example to the children means nothing to you. Actions have consequences. She made her choice, the school was well within their rights.
And I didn't see any "repentance". She is off to look for people who will "accept" her.
The school cannot forgive her as she did not sin against them. She is not being expelled from fellowship. I read nothing in the story to the effect that she was no longer welcome in the congregation. The school merely wanted to remove her from a position of authority because her actions were contrary to the churches doctrines.
How one could interpret the message of abortion from the church's actions is beyond me.
She is still receiving pay and benefits for the duration of her contract. I can't see how she would have any grounds for a lawsuit.
Wrong, the take home message is that you FOLLOW THE RULES. This is called ACCOUNTABILITY. This seemingly is something whose concept has eluded you.
I went to Catholic schools for 12 years. I was always taught that part of repenting was accepting the consequences of your actions. And that forgiveness does not necessarily entail the negating of said consequences. The school could plausibly completely forgive her and still think it in everyone's best interest not to renew her contract. As an analogy, I can forgive a murderer for his actions, but that doesn't mean I believe he should no longer have to serve any time in prison.
Wow--an entire congregation of people who never sin.
I'm guessing that's the problem, she wasn't repentant.
Whether she has legal recourse or not, she said she'll look next for a job "with people who accept me.''
If she didn't believe what she was doing is wrong, then apparently she never read her Bible. God is very strict about these kinds of moral failures. "Fornicators will not see the Kingdom of Heaven." That's pretty explicit, isn't it? I get tired of smorgasbord Christians who take what they like out of scripture and leave the rest. God says NO. Period.
"Which understanding apparently doesn't include the concept of forgiveness, and requires immediate expulsion from fellowship of anyone who commits a sin, even if they repent of it."
It didn't seem as if she was repenting the sin, more like she was hiding behind the fact that she got married.
It's a private school, so they should be free to do any idiotic thing they want.
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My libertarian side says... 'thats the spirit!'
lawyers take a hike.
Can you say "unclear on the concept"?
They didn't disfellowship her they simply removed her from a leadership role. Leadership in a church or church agency does require a more obedient individual. That is taught in the New Testament clearly.