Christian college fights legally to maintain male-only pastor policy.

Moody Bible Institute Fights to Protect Male-Only ⁣Clergy Policy

Moody Bible Institute, a 137-year-old Christian college and seminary in Chicago, is⁤ currently engaged⁣ in a legal ‌battle to defend its male-only clergy policy. The⁤ institute is determined to prevent what it ‌sees as “government intrusion in religious affairs.”

The case originated from⁤ a lawsuit filed by former communications faculty member Janay ⁤Garrick in 2018. Garrick ⁤challenged the school’s refusal to admit women into its Pastoral Ministry program. Moody Bible Institute has now filed an appeal against the ruling, ⁢which could potentially force the school to ​alter its religious doctrine that only allows ⁢men to serve as pastors.

Protecting Religious Freedom

The institute is being represented by⁢ the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a prominent advocate for religious freedom. Daniel Blomberg, the vice president and senior counsel of the Becket Fund, emphasized the importance of religious groups being able ‌to ⁢determine their own clergy qualifications without interference from the government. He stated, “Religious groups should be free to make up ​their ⁤own minds on clergy​ qualifications without judges or juries putting a finger on the scales.”

Garrick’s disagreement‌ with⁢ Moody’s religious beliefs​ led to the non-renewal of her contract. She subsequently ​filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging discrimination and retaliation based on her religious beliefs ⁣and gender. The court initially dismissed her complaint, but a ⁤second complaint focusing on gender discrimination and⁤ retaliation was allowed to proceed.

Protecting First Amendment Rights

Moody’s lawsuit ​argues that ⁤Garrick’s legal action is an attempt⁤ to use the ⁢federal judiciary to advance her doctrinal dispute. The appeal also ⁢asserts that ‍the school is protected by the “church autonomy doctrine,” which grants immunity ⁣from⁤ discovery⁢ and trial. This protection⁣ is crucial to safeguard Moody’s First Amendment right and prevent⁢ government interference in internal religious matters.

The argument further emphasizes that the government should not have control over a religious‍ institution’s personnel decisions based on doctrine. Allowing a “civil factfinder” to judge the importance of religious beliefs to the church’s mission‌ would undermine the​ fundamental principles of religious freedom.

Moody Bible Institute ‍remains steadfast in‌ its commitment to training and equipping Christian men and women to spread​ the gospel. Dr. Mark Jobe, the President of Moody, expressed the institute’s dedication to this mission, stating, “For over ⁢130 years, our school has trained⁤ and⁢ formed faithful Christian women and men who will commit their lives to spreading ⁢the gospel and bringing hope, joy, and love to all those in need. This mission ‍is rooted in Christ’s command to⁢ announce the good news to all people, and it has served as the bedrock of Moody since our founding.”

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