ROME, Ga. – Shorter University has come under fire for adopting new faith statements that require all employees to, among other things, reject homosexuality. The new policy, described as a “Personal Lifestyle Statement” that all employees are required to sign states in point B.3, “I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery and homosexuality.” New employees must sign the pledge as a condition of employment; current employees will be required to sign it when extending their contracts.
“Shorter University is asserting its own interpretation of Christianity at the expense of LGBT people,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Religion and Faith program director, Sharon Groves. “If they wish to proclaim the spirit of Christianity, they would be using their policies to send a message that we are called to respect and cherish the dignity of all – not discriminate against diversity. Instead, the school’s anti-LGBT policy is sending a dangerous message to other employees and students that there is something wrong with being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. As we are all too well aware, sending these types of messages can often have very serious consequences.”
University president, Don Dowless, told WSBTV that teachers and administrators who don’t sign the pledge could lose 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,” Dowless told the station.
