The end of a marriage may mean the end of employment at a Christian college — but not always.
Sarah Pulliam | posted 5/14/2008 10:03AM
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George Marsden, a University of Notre Dame history professor who has studied Christian institutions for several years, said that some religious colleges hold more strictly to lifestyle standards than others.
"It's not surprising for a place like Wheaton … where it's not just an anonymous group of people coming in to do their job at a public institution," Marsden said. "For 100 Christian colleges, there are probably 20 ways of handling these issues."
At College, a High Standard on Divorce | Kent Gramm is getting divorced, the college demands an explanation, and he refuses to give one. (The New York Times)
Divorce: Grounds for Dismissal | Kent Gramm, a full professor of English at Wheaton College, in Illinois, is amidst two painful separations. (Inside Higher Ed)
What's So Odd About Religious Colleges? | Wheaton's standards reflect an Ozzie and Harriet morality in a Sarah Jessica Parker world. (William McGurn, The Wall Street Journal)
Man fired for getting divorce | Professor loses job over marriage breakup (Editorial, The Gazette, Colorado Springs)
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It is always bizarre when you mix career with religion. Whether Pastor or Professor, marital breakups are very difficult for the Christian professional. I was forced out 14 years ago when my wife left and moved in with a new fellow next door to the church. Though the word "fired" was never used, I was terminated promptly for the actions of my ex and because I had been silly enough to go to Bible College and Seminary, it took years to reinvent my career in sales. I suffered economically due to issues out of my hands.
Did Gramm deserve to get fired? No other institution fires you for failing in marriage, plain and simple. And since 1 in 3 American adults will experience divorce, then it is clear that NO ONE should take a career with the church or with Christian institutions. Rather than study Gramm's morality, I think many of us could do well to read a book like Pagan Christianity. This present evangelical religious system does not work.
Johann
Posted: May 21, 2008 7:17 AM
Protestants sure are creative people, when they can somehow twist Jesus' crystal clear prohibition of divorce to mean the complete opposite. They say that Jews are the best lawyers, but I'm hiring me a Protestant lawyer if they ever find me standing over a corpse with a bloody knife in my hand. You guys sure know how to make black seem white and vice versa!
Deborah Solomon
Posted: May 16, 2008 9:40 AM
This issue is complex. I like most Christians believe that marriage is for a lifetime. There would be no stability in society if people divorced simply because they wanted a change. After 26 years of marriage, and two grown children that went away to college, I separated from my husband. After four long term marriage counselors there are still major unresolved issues. When both people are Christians and you don't want to make the other person bitter against God and you, how much do you say and not bring damage to the body of Christ? The absolute truth is there are no easy answers to every situation. I remember as a child, women in the church that they and their children endured physical abuse, threats and continuous verbal abuse. Some of their children had extreme difficulties in their adult lives. I believe it is of utmost importance that people seek to maintain homes of mutual respect and kindness, free from domestic violence and continuous verbal abuse.
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