Would you sign Georgia Christian Academy pledge?

[Hansc]

Faculty Refuse to Sign 'Lifestyle Statement,' Resign From Christian University

"Dozens of faculty and staff at a Georgian Christian academic institute are resigning over a statement from school officials in which employees must pledge to refrain from activities including drug use, alcohol, adultery, and homosexuality.

Known as the "personal lifestyle statement," around 50 members of the faculty and staff at Shorter University based in Rome, Ga., have chosen to resign rather than renew their contracts at the private school.

Dr. J. Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, which Shorter is a part of, told The Christian Post that the "lifestyle statement" is consistent with the convention's position.

"We have not taken a specific position related to the 'lifestyle statement,'" said White, "but the history of our convention, which goes back to 1822, has approved many resolutions regarding homosexuality as a sin and alcohol use as ill-advised."

Despite the outcry from some faculty and staff regarding the. . . "

Christian Post


Would you sign Georgia Christian Academy pledge? Is so why ? If not why?

[HisDaughter]

Yes, I would if I was a teacher. The only thing I currently do is drink alcohol maybe once or twice a yr. So that would not be difficult for me at all.

[krossquad]

Greetings:

Yes:

This would be like being on a starship without any officers.

by(e)carg

[HighBeams]

Personally, if the criteria listed were the only things the school demanded, I would not have any trouble signing such a disclaimer about myself since that is my lifestyle anyway. In fact, at my Christian school, there is a list of behaviors that we are expected to adhere to. But I do have some concerns about such a blanket list of don'ts. I understand the "Don't Do This" for the drug use, adultery, and homosexuality. Those are specifically named sins that are not to be found in a Christian community. But I do have a problem with the listing of alcohol (not specifically forbidden) as opposed to drunkenness (specifically called sin). I am a teetotaller myself (I never learned to like alcohol), but I do not see a problem with the occasional alcoholic drink taken responsibly. One of the comments made about the article said this:

Can someone tell me why Alcohol on the list (Jesus' first miracle, the Lord's supper, 1 Tim 5)? We, as Christians, should be careful to draw lines that Jesus never drew.

IMHO, the requirement about alcohol in this document is getting pretty close to legalism. That's a slippery slope that is just as big a problem as drunkenness.

Just out of curiosity, what does the school do about those churches (non-Southern Baptist) that serve real wine for communion?

[Unclaimed Treasure]

My friend received her doctorate in Psychology from Rosemeade University near Los Angeles. While she was there, she was required to sign a similar pledge. However, her school's pledge went even further. Students and faculty were required to refrain not only from the abovementioned but also from smoking, playing cards or any other form of gambling, attending movies or dancing. She stuck it out for the five years she was there, but once she had her degree, she turned down an offer to work there because of the pledge.

[HisDaughter]

My friend received her doctorate in Psychology from Rosemeade University near Los Angeles. While she was there, she was required to sign a similar pledge. However, her school's pledge went even further. Students and faculty were required to refrain not only from the abovementioned but also from smoking, playing cards or any other form of gambling, attending movies or dancing. She stuck it out for the five years she was there, but once she had her degree, she turned down an offer to work there because of the pledge.

Yea, this pledge is a bit much. Too, much!

[dave]

I'd not have a problem signing something like that as a faculty member/employee. I applaud them sticking to their guns on this and I hope they don't fold. This statement from that same article says it all for me:

..."We love Jesus Christ, and we want people who serve here to love Jesus Christ and be willing to not just sign the document, but enthusiastically endorse that in every aspect of their lives," said Shorter President Donald Dowless in an earlier interview with CP.

"We are an institution that wants to foster a Christian environment ... and that's done by all employees who we hire, not just the faculty but also the staff."... [sic]

They don't want their employees giving bad example of Christian beliefs or giving a conflicting model for behavior.

Now, as a student, I probably would not sign it. It's one thing to know what is expected, what is wrong, what is right, and to have the right model shown by those who an influence...but we also have the right to choose and make mistakes. A person can't be forced to behave in a certain manner...even though that behavior may be expected of them.

[Hansc]

For the most part I have no problem with the pledge. However, I do not think it is wrong to drink alcohol if in moderation. I will on occasion have a pear cider which claims to contain alcohol, or even a glass of wine, no big deal. A long time ago, I attended a church where it was considered wrong and worldly to go to the movies or for a man to wear gold. Women were also not allowed to wear pants.

I think that was over the top.

[RoyS]

I've been hanging out of this thread, because, when I read the pledge in Hans' OP, I thought, "No, I wouldn't sign that". Not because I think it's necessarily wrong, but because it is a blatant effort to enforce morality. Morality cannot be dictated by man; only God can dictate what we are supposed to do, or not do. When men try to impose their idea of morals, it interferes with God's word. Thanks, but no thanks.
Drinking alcohol is not a sin, drunkenness is.
Christ Himself drank wine.
Matthew 11:19

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children

Should He have been fired, because He didn't live up to man's 'pledge'? Heaven forbid; we would all be lost if that were the case.
As to the pledge that UT posted, that is clearly over the top. As HB said, that smacks of legalism, and, I think it's legalism in the worst sense of the word. Men cannot know how anyone walks with Christ, and men have no business making 'rules' that are not in line with His word. I have a real problem with those who presume to speak for God.

[Titus]

If this is something that they have to sign to be hired I don't have a problem with it. If it's something new that employees have to do after they were hired that's a little different. If it's done on the front end, it's like the school is saying, "we would like to hire you. This is who we are. If you agree with this, we would like for you to join us."
If, however, they come in after the fact and say, "we're taking a stand on issues. If you want to keep your job, you have to sign this.", that's just wrong. In my place of employment, we have to sign a corporate code of conduct every year. This, while certainly more restrictive, is about the same thing.