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Thursday,
February 19, 2004 |
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Minister
says Sprinkle barred because of trust
The
regional minister of the Disciples of Christ responded
to a Brite official’s accusation that he was barred
from interviewing ministerial candidates because he is
gay.
By
Elizabeth
Bassett
Staff Reporter
A letter from the Disciples of Christ regional minister
says the Brite Divinity School representative who alleges
he was discriminated against because he’s gay was
asked not to participate in interviews because of a lack
of trust and respect.
Stephen Sprinkle, Brite’s director of field education,
said he was barred from interviewing ordination candidates
from Jan. 12-14. Regional minister Robert Rueter said
in a letter that Sprinkle was asked not to participate
in interviews because of a petition Sprinkle filed in
the 48th Judicial District Court in October.
The petition was filed to investigate possible defaming
claims and conspiracy to interfere with Sprinkle’s
employment by officials in the Region and Brite students.
Sprinkle was being investigated by the Region for alleged
sexual misconduct when the petition was filed, according
to affidavits filed by members of the Region. The petition
was denied by Judge David Evans in a court hearing Feb.
12.
“Mr. Sprinkle’s court filing is inconsistent
with the level of mutual trust and respect required for
and expected of the members of the Committee on the Ministry,”
Rueter said in the letter.
Rueter said in the letter that Sprinkle fully participated
in the three-day meeting activities except for the interviewing
sessions, from which he was asked to excuse himself by
committee chairman Ben Hubert.
Before the petition was filed, Sprinkle’s status
in the Region was in question, said the letter from Rueter.
Sprinkle cut ties with the Region when he resigned his
standing in the church Feb. 12.
Richard Griffin, Sprinkle’s attorney, said at the
court hearing that Sprinkle’s employment at Brite
is not as secure as it once was.
“I think it’s untrue,” Brite President
Newell Williams said when asked about Griffin’s statement.
Williams said Sprinkle will remain field education director.
He said because Brite is affiliated with United Methodist
Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as well
as the Christian Church, there is no requirement that
the field education director be a member of the Christian
Church.
Williams said that because Sprinkle has resigned his standing
and is no longer acting on behalf of the Region, he will
not be allowed to interview ordination candidates in the
future. |
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