Heritage Christian Academy in Rockwall, Texas fired Cathy Samford, a science teacher and volleyball coach for being pregnant out of wedlock. Samford, 29, is in a relationship with her fiancé, but says that various circumstances prevented them from getting married.
Under the First Amendment, the Supreme Court clearly permits religious institutions to terminate employment in cases that would be considered discrimination in secular institutions. The editorial board concurs with Heritage Christian Academy that religious schools should have more leverage to hire and fire employees with ministerial duties. We fully support the separation of church and state, and think that religious institutions should be free from government and vice versa.
However, the sections of Samford’s contract that were the basis for her termination concern us. According to a Heritage Christian Academy press release, employees sign a contract with the following stipulation: “The teacher will manifest, by precept and example, the highest Christian virtue and personal decorum, serving as a Christian role model both in and out of school to pupils; and as an example to parents and fellow faculty members in judgment, dignity respect and Christian living.”
We see this part of the contract as too vague for termination. Various denominations, individual churches and individual believers have various interpretations of “the highest Christian virtue and personal decorum.” By some Christians’ standards, Samford was involved in a loving, Christian relationship with her fiancé, but for various reasons, unable to formally marry.
Heritage Christian Academy’s statement of faith mostly clarifies the school’s Christian foundation, but not very many political statements. The school’s administration believes that Adam is the historical ancestor of all mankind and that Jesus Christ will literally return to earth to pick the saved. They also believe in “the everlasting punishment of the lost.” However, other than continual calls for the faculty to be Christian and live a “Christian lifestyle,” the school’s website does not give specifics on what constitutes a Christian lifestyle.
If a religious institution believes that having a child outside of marriage will impact an employee’s ministerial duties to the point where the employee should be fired, then the institution should state that in the contract. As it is, different people could interpret the contract in different ways. Could a teacher be fired for being gay? What about for having a tattoo or reading “Harry Potter” at home? There is no firm indication of what crosses the line.
The editorial board feels that religious institutions should not extend their reach into their employees’ homes. We see a fine line between the right of religious institutions to convey their message and the right of the individual to live his or her life outside of work free of an employer.
