KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–A music instructor fired by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for allegedly viewing pornographic websites on his office computer breached contractual duties of “good faith and fair dealing and loyalty to MBTS,” the seminary noted in a May 13 response to a lawsuit filed by the instructor.
Douglas H. Manley of Cleveland, Tenn., who is seeking $25,000 in unpaid wages plus court costs, was an instructor of church music from Aug. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2001, when he was fired.
The legal response filed by Midwestern contended that any damages suffered by Manley were caused by his own acts.
Midwestern President R. Philip Roberts, in his termination letter to Manley, said the firing was based on “departure from the basic tenets” of the Baptist Faith and Message. It cited Article XV, which says Christians should oppose “all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography.”
Roberts’ letter was submitted by Manley as part of his March 29 lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mo., alleging that the seminary violated state law by refusing to pay him his unpaid wages remaining in his contract.
Roberts said in a statement issued to Baptist Press, “We are going to let the legal process work, and we are not going to issue any further comment on this particular personnel matter at this time.”
Midwestern is represented by Darryl Uffelmann of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin in Kansas City, Mo.
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