Christian Daycare Says No to Gay, Unchurched Employees
A daycare operating inside a church in Waukee, Iowa, is stirring debate in the local community for requiring employees to reapply and follow new Christian lifestyle guidelines as it closes and reopens next month.
Nearly two dozen teachers who worked at Happy Time Daycare and Preschool have to reapply for their jobs as Point of Grace Church turns the operation into Point of Grace Children’s Academy beginning Sept. 6. Along with short notice, however, employees have voiced concerns over the Christian Lifestyle Commitment that they must agree to.
The agreement states that teachers must abstain from: viewing pornography, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, homosexual conduct and pre-marital sex, according to an application posted on the church’s website.
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Though religious affiliation was not previously stressed at the Happy Time Daycare, as reported by KCCI, the new center made their stance clear through a letter, which was given to staffers last week, notifying them of the abrupt changes.
At the beginning of the application, the academy states, “All employees must be practicing Christians and active members of an evangelical Christian Church.”
Questions about one’s faith are also explicitly outlined in the application, including: “Do you attend church regularly?”; “How long have you attended?”; “Describe the activities you participate in and/or responsibilities you have in your Church?”; “Describe how you came to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?”; and “Have you ever practiced a religious faith other than Christianity?”
Other details about spiritual gifts and evangelism are questioned as well. Highlighted at the bottom of the application is a “Christian Lifestyle Commitment.”
“Point of Grace Children’s Academy requires every employee accept and follow a lifestyle commitment based upon Biblical principles. As a Christian School representing Jesus Christ in our community, we require employees to be born-again Christians and to live their lives as Christian role models.”
Additionally, “Employees must conduct themselves both on and off the job in a way that will not raise question regarding their Christian testimonies ... Moral misconduct as defined by Scripture violates the bona fide occupational requirement of employees being Christian role models.”
“Non-negotiables” are then listed forbidding employees from engaging in pre-marital sex, homosexuality, bisexuality, illegal drugs, pornography, and overconsumption of alcohol.
“Will you agree to commit to live within the expectations?” the application asks.
An anonymous teacher who previously worked at the daycare told KCCI, “I consider myself Christian, I just don’t go to church regularly, I don’t meet some of the requirements and I don’t think it’s fair because of my lifestyle choices I can’t do the job I’m doing right now.”
One of the preschool’s directors, Bonnie Ribbens, was also let go. Ribbens told Patch, “I am confused and hurt and distraught over this. I felt I was great in my position and I met the requirements.”
Some parents who have been sending their children to Happy Time have decided to pull their children out of the program.
Meanwhile, others have shown support for the changes.
Lead Pastor Jeff Mullen of Point of Grace told the Des Moines Register that he has received calls of interest and support and stressed that the change is part of a larger effort to enhance the spiritual and academic experience available to children and families.
Point of Grace Children’s Academy executive director, Stephanie Chase, did not return calls to The Christian Post when asked to comment.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa told the Des Moines Register that the academy has the right to practice their religious freedom. Under the regulations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, or societies are exempt from the federal laws that EEOC enforces when it comes to the employment of individuals based on their particular religion.”
“This exception relieves religious organizations only from the ban on employment discrimination based on religion. It does not exempt such organizations from employing individuals due to their race, gender, national origin, disability, color, and/or age.” The Point of Grace application emphasized that they did not discriminate on those factors.
Confused about the controversy, Mullen told WHO-AM Radio, “When you sign on the dotted line when you choose to follow Jesus, he says this is the way, your life should reflect me. These are just standards for our believers. We have to clarify for our teachers that this is what our life should reflect.”
“You want a great academy, you got that. We will have honorable teachers – righteous teachers – teaching your kids.”
Regardless of the reactions, Pastor Mullen affirmed to WHO-AM that the church, which had been running Happy Time daycare for three years, would not repeal or revise any changes made to the new program because he would someday have to stand before God, whose response he valued the most.
