Not long ago, a woman who taught art and served as a teacher’s aide for three years at a religious school in New Jersey was fired. Why? Because she was unmarried and pregnant, the school determined she violated its religious-based policy prohibiting premarital sex.
She sued, arguing that the termination violated the state’s nondiscrimination law. After her case was dismissed, the woman appealed and was able to see her lawsuit proceed toward a trial.
Unlock attorney Richard Hammar’s Legal Development about this court decision to learn how it affects your church’s employment-related policies and decisions.
Go even deeper on the proper handling of policies, employee conduct, and terminations with attorney Frank Sommerville’s recent four-part series on employment issues for churches. We’re giving you access to one article in the series—“Developing Strong Job Descriptions for Employees and Volunteers”—until February 1. Join today to unlock the rest of the series, Hammar’s Legal Development, and much more!
