U.S. Pastor Council Sues City of Austin to Ensure Churches Have Right to Hire in Accordance With Scripture

By The Editor

Photo Credit: Terri Heisele

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas-based U.S. Pastor Council has filed suit against the City of Austin to challenge the lack of an exemption in its non-discrimination ordinance to accommodate the hiring practices of area churches.

Austin City Code states that “[a]n employer may not fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, based on the individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability.”

The U.S. Pastor Council says that the ordinance is problematic for churches, which need to hire—in accordance with Scripture—those who are not living in unrepentant sin, particularly as it pertains to the statute’s mention of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

“[T]he ordinance provides no exemptions or accommodations for employers who hold religious objections to homosexuality or transgender behavior,” the lawsuit states. “Every church in Austin that refuses to hire practicing homosexuals as clergy or church employees is violating city law and subject to civil penalties and liability.”

It notes that the Bible has specific moral requirements for church leadership.

“Because these member churches rely on the Bible rather than modern-day cultural fads for religious and moral guidance, they will not hire practicing homosexuals or transgendered people as clergy,” the legal challenge explains, pointing to Romans 1:26–28, 1 Timothy 1:8–11, 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13.

“These member churches … require church employees to live according to the Bible’s

The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at Christian News