Posted on 11/03/2011 1:50:01 PM PDT by Graybeard58
ROME, Ga. (BP) -- A "Personal Lifestyle Statement" for employees of Shorter University has placed the Georgia Baptist school in the news.
The lifestyle stipulations, which employees of the university must sign or risk termination, is one of four new policy statements adopted by the university's board of trustees.
The lifestyle statement includes requirements that employees:
-- agree with the university's Statement of Faith.
-- be active members of a local church.
-- "reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality."
-- abstain from alcohol in public and in the presence of students and from the use, sale, possession or production of illegal drugs.
"The 'why' is really simple," trustee chair-elect Joe Frank Harris Jr. said in a university news release after the policy statements were adopted Oct. 21. "What you stand for matters. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us to 'Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.' If we acknowledge Him, He will make this university's path straight."
Shorter's requirement that employees reject homosexuality has sparked media attention, with one gay newspaper anonymously quoting a Shorter employee identified as gay as asking, "Why is homosexuality so much worse than anything else in the Bible? Why does a homosexual deserve to be fired any more than an obviously egotistical person, or a lazy person, or a dishonest person?"
Shorter University President Don Dowless defended the statement, telling Atlanta TV station WSBTV that the school is not trying to offend anyone but rather declare its own identity.
"That is the biblical view. This is our view and anything outside that is not biblical, we do not accept," he said.
In addition to the Personal Lifestyle Statement, Shorter's new Statement of Faith outlines the university's adherence to 11 Christian doctrines such as the inerrancy of the Bible, the necessity of faith in Christ and the importance of evangelism.
In its "Philosophy for Christian Education," Shorter commits to "keeping an emphasis upon a biblically sound, integrated, faith-based education that promotes a zeal for academic, spiritual, and professional growth."
And in a statement on Biblical Principles on the Integration of Faith and Learning, Shorter commits to academic excellence and spiritual vigor, "cultivating a campus environment that encourages spiritual, moral, and intellectual growth in concert with a biblical worldview."
Shorter's trustees also approved a new logo and seal featuring the university's motto, "Transforming Lives through Christ."
Dowless, in the university news release, said the trustee actions set forth "a continuing affirmation of our Christ-centered mission."
"We believe our strong academic programs and our absolute commitment to Jesus Christ will continue to attract stellar students, faculty and staff," Dowless said. --30-- John Evans is a writer based in Houston. Links to Shorter University's new statements can be accessed via the news release at http://www.shorter.edu/about/news/2011/10_25_11_logo_statements.htm.
Ping worthy?
Notice that premarital sex and adultery are linked with homosexuality yet it is homosexuality that is keyed upon!
Good for them (Shorter.) Predictably, they will be attacked, as are all normal Americans.
Personally, I think a private religious school has every right to expect students to meet the lifestyle expectations laid down in the school’s foundation faith. If a student can’t meet those expectations, then perhaps Shorter is not the school for them.
That said, I’m sure there are activists the world ‘round preparing to protest/condemn/vilify the school for its actions.
“gay /newspaper /anonymously quoting “
A triple redundancy- assuming by ‘gay’ they mean ‘oriented towards homosexuality’ and not ‘happy and carefree’.
No, it’s just a double: ‘newspaper’ doesn’t count.
Even if one were a "sin is sin" advocate, most sins do not have self identified groups dedicated to the sin, and dedicated to normalizing the sin. A Christian organization need not specifically identify say,...thievery as an example. Thieves haven't organized to promote the idea that being a thief is simply an alternate life style that should be embraced as normal. (this excludes socialist/democrat politicians obviously)
Jews do not recognize Jesus as Messiah
Protestants do not recognize the Pope as Vicar of Christ
Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store.
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The more colleges and universities stop taking the poison apple of federal money, the sooner they can live according to their own rules.
Shorter’s a private university and has every right to make its own rules for its employees. Those who don’t like it have the freedom to go work for the average, communist left-wing whacko institution that they wish to.
How true! But, my dear old aunt taught Sunday School for 20 plus years with a bourbon smile on her face. She said it wasn’t “drinking” if you just have a little nip to get the blood flowing, it was a tonic. According to my mom Aunt G. had a shot of booze every morning for most of her life. She made it into her 90’s, by the way.
Would we get this upset if a nearby mosque insisted that is janitorial employees must refrain from bringing ham sandwiches in their brown bag lunches?
Nope. The Mohammedans can do whatever they want and the lamestream media would utter a word.
Correction: Nope. The Mohammedans can do whatever they want and the lamestream media would never utter a word.
Obviously there are degrees of perversion. Most male homos are also child molestors. Is same-sex predation of children worse than adultery?
Your story isn't.
Don't give him a hard time about the mustache.
It was the Seventies.
Baptist ping
“Shorter University President Don Dowless defended the statement, telling Atlanta TV station WSBTV that the school is not trying to offend anyone but rather declare its own identity.”
He has every right to do that.
For those who might criticize his statement, JR has every right to decide who “attends” here, as well.
We aren’t beyond private property rights...yet.
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