Management
Matthew is planning to open a manufacturing facility. He is considering a “Christian-only” hiring policy whereby he would determine to hire only professing, evangelical Christians to work in the facility. He asks you for your advice on the following questions:
1. Would such a policy be legal? If so, under what terms and what might the restrictions be? 2. From a Great Commission perspective, would this policy be advisable? 3. How would your answers change, if at all, if they planned to open a Christian school rather than a manufacturing facility?
Refer to the Assignment Instructions folder of the course for general directions. You should either use the words “Legal and Advisable” or “Legal, Not Advisable” or “Not Legal, Advisable” or “Not Legal and Not Advisable” in the subject line of your discussion board post, depending upon your conclusion. Do not use attachments as these are cumbersome and inhibit the discussion process.
The assignment is only to respond to these two
Legal, Not advisable
At first thought this is discrimination and cannot be done. Actually if Matthew has less than 15 employees then yes this policy is legal according to The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Depending on the type of goods he may be manufacturing he may be able to have a small “family” company that would employee less than 15. A company having that few of employees could limit the company’s future growth, potentially not being able to increase by hiring more employees to handle the demand, nor could they increase their profits. He could also find himself tied up in legal issues and court battles depending on how an employee left. If employees felt like they were treated unfairly because their religious beliefs contradicted his and the companies there would be a greater likelihood of future problems. We are to be of the world but not in it (Romans 12:2). If he hires only believers he is also not taking steps toward bringing the gospel to everyone as commissioned to believers by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
If he were to open a Christian school where it is a given and there are no “hidden” ideals then that could potentially limit the workers they have. For organizations such as Christian schools it is legal based on the EEOC guidelines. ““Threshold Issues,” http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/threshold.html, specially-defined “religious organizations” and “religious educational institutions” are exempt from certain religious discrimination provisions, and a “ministerial exception” bars Title VII claims by employees who serve in clergy roles.” (EEOC). Christian and private schools typically do not receive government funds either. Liberty University does abide by the EEOC (LU HR). Liberty University employees do have to sign that they are in agreement with Liberty University’s Doctrinal Statement. They know that they are working for a Christian organization and there are expectations such as Convocation that they will be required to attend and beliefs that they will have understand.
References:
Liberty University Human Resources referenced from: http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=401
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission referenced from: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_religion.html
The other one is
For Matthew to consider opening a manufacturing company and only plans to hire Christians is not legal. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 SEC. 2000e-2. [Section 703] this states specifically that it is unlawful to fail or refuse to hire or to fire a person based on a person’s religion. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2014) To engage in such a practice his business could be required to pay punitive and compensatory damages under section 1977 (42 U.S.C. 1981). The only way Matthew could do such is if the organization that he is opening is a church or Christian organization which is supported by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Title VII allows churches and religious organizations to discriminate on the basis of religion for all jobs.
I would not advise Matthew to open a manufacturing company and only hire Christians. Although he may want to only surround himself with Christians, that is not how being a Christian works. Luke 19:10 (NIV) states, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”. There’s no way for Matthew to minister and help the lost to learn about God if he does not open the door for it to take place.
If Matthew were to open a Christian school rather than a manufacturing company, I would not be against hiring Christian teachers. One has to have knowledge of the Bible in order to teach children in that way. This would, in my opinion, be mandatory because within a Christian school, there are mandatory assignments that will be biblically based and one who has no clue cannot possibly teach what they do not know.
Nevertheless, I would not advise Matthew to open a manufacturing plant with plans to only hire Christians. How would he truly know if the individuals are Christians or not anyway?
References
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2014, July 27). U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Laws, Regualtions & Guidence , Statutes. Retrieved from U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm
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