Level Seven - Challenging Christian Thinking

THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN
Date: 12/11/2008

FAITH AND BUSINESS
Do They Mix?
Date: 30/6/2008

FAITH AND HEALTH
Is There a Link?
Date: 8/4/2008

Is Religion Good For Women?
Date: 31/1/2008

Is God “Green”?
Date: 27/11/2007

Nobody Knows
Date: 5, 6 & 7 Oct 2007

"Faith and Politics"
Do They Mix?
Date: 5/7/2007

“LET MY PEOPLE GO”
Date: 3/4/2007

How to avoid another Enron
Date: 30/1/2007

DISCRIMINATION
How Do We Fight It? Is Litigation the Answer?
Date: 17/10/2006

The Terminally Ill Life
What Value?
Date: 27/9/2006

Da Vinci Decoded
Date: 28/6/2006

DISCRIMINATION: How Do We Fight It? Is Litigation the Answer?

In the week that British Airways suspended without pay a member of its ground staff for wearing a small cross on a chain, an imposing panel of five legal experts gathered together with an eager and early rising audience for a breakfast seminar at The Law Society's Hall, Chancery Lane, London for the latest "Level Seven" seminar entitled, "Discrimination: How should we fight it? Is litigation the answer?"

Richard O'Dair, an employment and discrimination law specialist, started the discussion with the idea that it is easy for Christians to believe that they are free from discriminatory prejudice and that it is an area where "we need the Holy Spirit to help us". He pointed out that on an organizational level it is easy to be sued for alleged discrimination "even though you and the Lord know that you have acted in good faith." O'Dair believes that generally, discrimination law is something that Christians should welcome as they must be able to give a coherent justification for anything done in the workplace.

At the same time, Paul Diamond argued that discrimination legislation is used to discriminate against people and that it is very political. Diamond specialises in the law of religious liberty and argues that, for instance, legislation that protects rights for people of a certain sexual orientation may, by its very nature, discriminate against religious organisations that believe in sexual relationships in terms of God-ordained heterosexual marriage.

On a very practical level, Mark Mullins, a member of the Council of the Lawyer's Christian Fellowship and Chairman of its Public Policy Committee, argued that Christians are called into the world to be "salt and light", and that following the principles of Romans 12 they should "endeavour to live at peace with everyone". He believes that legal remedies should always be a last resort and that a Christian employee or employer should always work towards seeking a reasonable accommodation. "Nevertheless," he stated, "a Christian must always stand for Christ and must not compromise their faith." Mark Jones agreed, stating that "we must take a stand against evil".

For the past three years, Jones has run a practice applying his specialised experience in employment law to assisting Christians, Churches and other Christian employers. Contrary to the widely held view that lawyers are always looking for more business, he stated that "while litigation is an answer, it is not the only answer." Among the many methods he saw of making a stand were, "being stoical" and taking council from friends and ministry. He sees the ACAS grievance procedure as very much in harmony with the Biblical principles of Matthew 18, and sees the initial informal meeting as an opportunity for Christians to be able to resolve differences in a pastoral manner. However, O'Dair warns, while as a Christian you may want to avoid litigation, sometimes it is best to follow the old Roman dictum: "If you want peace, prepare for war".

Daniel Matovu recently defended an employee who was fired for distributing Bible passages relating to homosexuality to work colleagues. He counselled that Christians "need to be careful to be sensitive".

by Victor Hulbert, BUC NEWS #511 , 20 october 2006.