GAY LECTURER SUES CHURCH FOR SACKING
A gay music lecturer is suing the Moreleta Park NG Kerk in Pretoria after he was fired for having a same-sex relationship.
Johan Strydom is demanding R100 000 in damages as well as an “unconditional” apology in the Pretoria High Court.
Strydom, who now lives in Jeffreys Bay, claims that he was fired from the church’s Arts Academy in July 2005 after an anonymous caller told the church that he was gay.
He refused to discuss the issue on the basis that it was a personal matter and was later sent an e-mail from the congregation manager firing him because of the church’s position on homosexuality.
“Why is it not necessary for a heterosexual person to say on his application that he is heterosexual? I can’t see why I had to tell anyone I was homosexual,” an emotional Strydom told the court on Monday, reports SAPA.
“… I was merely a music lecturer, not a spiritual leader. I was not even a member of the N G Kerk,” he said.
The church has said that he was aware that his homosexuality disqualified him from the position, which he would not have been offered if he had been open about his sexuality.
It also says that he had no formal employment contract.
It has been claimed that earlier this year the church cancelled a planned address by the singer Nataniël to students at its arts academy because of his sexuality.
What kind of church. Well I never the big church on the hill who is full of gay and bi guys thinks it knows who goes to church there well i have news for them there are lots of gay and bi men in there church. they are so far from God with these thoughts. God made us all gay and not and never did he say oh i messed up this one he is gay no he said he is my son in my likeness.
Nataniel is one of the best show men of our age and most of his patrons are pepole that go to church and i have even seen pepole not gay for the church on the hill there.
Wow they got to the top of the hill but its a long way doen down hill for them.