Pro-LGBT Methodist Group May Reach Settlement With Ex-Employee Suing for 'Gender Identity Discrimination,' Unlawful Firing
A major LGBT Methodist organization may reach a settlement with an ex-employee who's filing a complaint against them over allegations of "gender identity discrimination" and unlawful firing.
Reconciling Ministries Network, which boasts the support of hundreds of congregations throughout the United States, requested and was given an extension on its official response to the complaint filed by its former director of communications Andy Oliver.
The Christian Post obtained a copy of the RMN motion via a FOIA request submitted and granted last week.
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On May 28, Oliver filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights in response to what he believed was his unmerited termination after refusing to perform an action he considered to be gender identity discrimination.
"I filed a grievance with RMN's Personnel Committee objecting to and refusing to participate in what I reasonably believed amounted to gender identity discrimination," read the complaint obtained by CP.
"Specifically, I stated that I believed RMN's Executive Director, Matt Berryman, was trying to 'bully' me into changing a subordinate's job title despite that I believed that the title change constituted discrimination based on the subordinate's transgender status."
Oliver further alleged in his complaint that over the next couple months he was "subjected to unjustified adverse employment actions" that included "more severe scrutiny" of his work and eventually being fired "without giving me any justification at all."
"I believe that I was terminated in retaliation for reporting what I believed to be gender identity discrimination," continued Oliver.
Earlier this month, RMN submitted the motion to the commission which extend the deadline for them to issue a formal response to Oliver's complaint.
The motion, which both RMN and Oliver gave approval, pushed back the deadline for a response to the complaint from its original July 6 date to Aug. 10.
"Counsel for both respondent and complainant have been diligently seeking to resolve this matter via a consensual resolution. The parties continue to discuss settlement in hopes of avoiding intervention by the commission," read the unopposed motion.
"And, even if settlement is not possible, delaying the time for RMN to respond to the complaint by just over a month will not materially impact the commission's ability to effectively adjudicate the matter."
Founded in September 1982 at a gathering in Boston, Massachusetts, RMN is a group that lobbies for the United Methodist Church to change its position on homosexuality.
Presently, the UMC officially considers homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching" and bars clergy from officiating gay marriages or being in same-sex relationships.
Based in Chicago, RMN has hundreds of "reconciling congregations," or churches within the UMC that officially concur with their mission to be more inclusive of the LGBT community.
In the order granting the extension for RMN's response, the commission noted that they believe "RMN has requested this extension in good faith and proffered good cause."
"The commission orders RMN to file its verified response to Oliver's complaint or otherwise plead on or before Aug. 10. Failure to do so may result in the commencement of default proceedings," concluded the commission.
