Seminary professor fired for beliefs on homosexuality: complaint
ATLANTA, September 12, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) - A theological professor at an African-American Christian seminary has complained to federal anti-discrimination officials that he was fired based on his conservative views, particularly his stance against homosexuality.
Rev. Jamal-Dominique Hopkins.
Rev. Jamal-Dominique Hopkins told the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in a filing last month that administrators at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) had begun mistreating him after attendees at an event he organized were given a book that called homosexual activity sinful.
“It was primarily the book that created an issue,” Hopkins, 42, told Religion News Service. After he was confronted by his department chair, Rev. Margaret Aymer, Hopkins said administrators began criticizing his conservative religious ideals, “intimidating me, slandering my character, giving me poor evaluations, and changing student grades from failing to passing with no merit.’‘
Joe Hopkins, a California attorney representing his son, told RNS the affair could lead to a lawsuit if no action is taken. “This is retaliation for standing up for his rights, bottom line,” he said.
ITC denied the claims, saying that Hopkins was a disgruntled former employee who distorted the facts. “The reality is that the non-renewal of Dr. Hopkins’ contract had nothing to do with academic freedom or any efforts to infringe thereon,’’ said ITC President Ronald Peters in an August 8 statement. RNS reports the seminary declined to make administration officials available for further comment.
ITC describes itself on its website as the “world’s premier resources for Black [sic] church scholarship and faith-based solutions to the spiritual and socio-economic challenges confronting the African American community.”
