American Bible Society to employees: Abstain from sex outside marriage or resign

[Hoodat]

American Bible Society to employees: Abstain from sex outside marriage or resign

Michael Boren     |     May 30, 2018 — 6:08 PM EDT

The American Bible Society, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that translates and distributes Bibles around the world, wants employees to agree to abstain from sex outside marriage — or resign.

In a policy recently made public, the organization also defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. That means LGBT employees could be disqualified from working at the nonprofit. So could sexually active straight employees who live with a partner but are not married.

Employees who don’t commit to the terms by Jan. 1, 2019, will be told to resign. The policy is a shift for the organization, which previously did not require staffers to abide by such an agreement.

Up to nine employees have already left, according to a current staffer who has worked at the nonprofit for more than a decade and would be affected because she lives with a partner outside of marriage.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/american-bible-society-philadelphia-christian-beliefs-marriage-lgbt-20180530.html


I don't have a problem with this.  Finally, someone confronts sex in general, regardless of sexual preference.

[Sanguine]

No, I don't have a problem with this either.  Walk the talk.

[raml]

Sounds OK to me.

[SirLinksALot]

Organizations (religious in nature or not ) have various ethics code for their employees on how they should conduct themselves outside work hours.

This is nothing out of the ordinary.

[Restored]

Companies don't have jurisdiction over employees outside of work so long as their activity doesn't impact the company. So basically, this amounts to "Don't get caught having sex outside of marriage".
Oddly, it also says "Don't lead people to suspect you are having sex outside of marriage" so it is not even a valid restriction. Pharisees. 

[SirLinksALot]

Companies don't have jurisdiction over employees outside of work so long as their activity doesn't impact the company. So basically, this amounts to "Don't get caught having sex outside of marriage".
Oddly, it also says "Don't lead people to suspect you are having sex outside of marriage" so it is not even a valid restriction. Pharisees.

So, if a church employs a Pastor, a Youth Worker, etc. are they acting like Pharisees when they insist that these folks not have sex outside marriage?

[driftdiver]

So, if a church employs a Pastor, a Youth Worker, etc. are they acting like Pharisees when they insist that these folks not have sex outside marriage?

@SirLinksALot
They are following the guidance provided in the Bible.

[Restored]

Correct. It is none of their business. In order for them to know about it, they have to sit in judgment without knowing the facts.

A male coworker went to work for a church-related company. He immediately got called into "the office", told he was living with a woman and it was not allowed.

Him: It's my sister. My parents moved to the beach and we are living in the house until it sells
(uncomfortable looks, glances back and forth)
Company: People are coming to us about it
Him: Tell them it's my sister. 
Company: It just looks bad.

The company was only concerned about how it looked. The truth was irrelevant to them.
My guess is that the company is saying "If you get arrested while having sex outside marriage, we can fire you". After all, how else would they know if someone was having sex outside marriage?

[SirLinksALot]

"If you get arrested while having sex outside marriage, we can fire you".

Maybe if prostitution is illegal in your area, you can get arrested.

But what if it was consensual sex with an acquaintance? How can a person be arrested for it?

[ABX]

A private company has the right to set these standards even if I don't agree with them.

[Restored]

Yes but if a company fired you for having sex outside marriage and you file a Wrongful Termination suit, the company has to prove you were having sex outside marriage. I don't see how they can do that.

According to the New Testament, you would have to fire every divorced person.