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University Demands Workers Sign 'Not Gay' Pledge

Sign 'lifestyle statement' or lose your job, Georgia school says

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 1, 2011 3:55 AM CDT | Updated Nov 1, 2011 4:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Georgia's Shorter University wants to know what's happening in its workers' bedrooms. The conservative Christian university is demanding that its 200 employees sign a "Personal Lifestyle Statement" rejecting homosexuality, adultery, and premarital sex, the New York Daily News reports. Those who don't sign the pledge face losing their jobs. "I think that anybody that adheres to a lifestyle outside of what the biblical mandate is would not be allowed to continue here," the school's president says.

The pledge also bans teachers and administrators from drinking alcohol in the presence of students and requires them to be active in local churches. Students aren't required to sign the statement but many of them, as well as some employees, are upset about the pledge, a university employee tells the Georgia Voice. "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," he says.

Anything outside that is not biblical, we do not accept. the university's president says.
"Anything outside that is not biblical, we do not accept." the university's president says.   (Shutterstock)
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It isn't enough that to come here you have to be a Christian. You have to sign on a dotted line that you're going to believe things and act a certain way. It is pretty insulting. - A Shorter University employee

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 54 comments
bewilderbeast
Nov 2, 2011 4:40 AM CDT
Christians! Spreading hate at a facility near you.
Truth777
Nov 2, 2011 12:20 AM CDT
Homosexuality is a sin. Read the Bible.
AnonymousCommenter
Nov 1, 2011 6:52 PM CDT
I think that this is pretty common among "Christian Universities", not only for students, but employees as well.  There is one around here that requires its faculty and staff to sign a "statement of faith".  I'm not sure if they receive and federal funding or not.  I certainly hope that they do not.  I also do not see how they can truly consider themselves to be institutions of higher education when they only look at things from one perspective and choose to associate only with those who hold similar beliefs and opinions as themselves.  How to they teach critical thinking skills in this context?
 

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