The Tennessean >> Former Nashville councilman hits Baptists with lawsuit
Three years ago a former Nashville, Tennessee Metro Council member, Ron Nollner, was hired by the SBC's International Mission Board to oversee the construction of a New Dehli office building. He and his wife, Beverly, who was hired "to provide support, aid and comfort to her husband," sold their house and car and gave up his construction career and her job in the U.S. to work for the IMB and live in India for at least the next three years for a paltry $1200 a month.
When Nollner complained to IMB administration about unsafe building practices and the builder and architect bribing local officials to obtain construction approval along the way, the IMB responded by informing Nollner his position was "no longer necessary." In other words, they fired him.
On October 20, 2011 Nollner filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the SBC in the Davidson County (TN) Circuit Court alleging "retaliatory discharge, breach of contract and detrimental reliance." In the lawsuit Nollner describes IMB officials' reactions to his concerns as "unbothered, if not complicit."
In a related case the Supreme Court is slated to consider the idea of "ministerial exception." The outcome could affect not only this case but many other cases, some legitimate, others frivolous.
Could a ruling by the Supreme Court in this case open the door to victims of sexual abuse by SBC ministers suing churches and the SBC for failing to protect them against serial abusers? Stay tuned.
Photo © The Tennessean
NYT > Is Religion Above the Law?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteChristians are supposed to turn the other cheek, right? Why do the sheep have to be better than the shepherds? Why is there no human accountability in ministry? How can people be protected from that which they do not know?
ReplyDeleteWill we hear Psalm 105:15 shouted once again? What about Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:15, Deuteronomy 25:4, Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 9:9, 1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Timothy 5:18?
There's always something to pray about!
I guess he won't make the Bellevue's Success Plus speaking list
ReplyDeleteHarry L. Smith
Comments regarding how the world remembers Harry:
"It's interesting that Mr. Smith didn't mention two of the most critical principles in life.
1. Always tell the truth. Honesty is the greatest virtue.
2. Treat your employees with blue collar jobs with the same respect you treat your rich buddies."
Go Baptist Go