(RNS) The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has denied the
\nclaims of a black former employee who filed suit, alleging she was fired
\nafter expressing concern that the ministry was not sufficiently reaching
\nout to African-American churches.<\/p>\n
\nThe racial discrimination lawsuit by Kimberly McCallum was moved
\nWednesday (Sept. 2) from a local court to a federal court, the
\nAssociated Press reported.<\/p>\n
\nIn response, the association issued a statement confirming the suit
\nand saying it works to be inclusive.<\/p>\n
\n“We cannot discuss the specifics of the pending case, except to
\nstate that we disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit,” said the
\nassociation, which is based in Charlotte, N.C. “The BGEA provides equal
\nemployment opportunities to people of all races. The organization
\ncontinues to be inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender or
\nnationality in all of the ministry’s activities worldwide.”<\/p>\n
\nThe suit was filed in June in a Mecklenburg County (N.C.) court, but
\nwas moved to a U.S. District Court in Charlotte.<\/p>\n
\nAccording to the AP, the suit says McCallum complained that a list
\nof 635 prospective congregations for a BGEA program included only three
\nthat were predominantly black. She said she was fired a week later due
\nto downsizing. She seeks back pay, damages and job reinstatement.<\/p>\n
\n“Subsequent to her discharge, plaintiff learned that the global
\noffices had not been downsized and that the only job that was eliminated
\nthere was the one occupied by the plaintiff,” the suit reads.<\/p>\n
Adelle M. Banks (RNS) The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has denied the claims of a black former employee who filed suit, alleging she was fired after expressing concern that the ministry was not sufficiently reaching out to African-American churches. The racial discrimination lawsuit by Kimberly McCallum was moved Wednesday (Sept. 2) from a local court to a federal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n
\nCopyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of
\nthis transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written
\npermission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"