Why are they excluded from the equal opportunity act?

So sad. Happy Time has been a staple in Waukee for over 30 years. What Point of Grace has done is nothing short of a hostile takeover. Anyone who has attended POG knows that it could be called "The Jeff Mullen Show". Half of the service is of him singing the other half is him asking you for money. I wouldn't be surprised if he was doing this simply for the publicity.

I still haven't received any formal notice from the "new management" and I have used the daycare for part-time care for over 2 years. Apparently if you weren't there on Friday, you don't get any information. If it weren't for Facebook, I may not have found out. It is the unconscionable conduct of the leaders of POG that has me baffled. And they call themselves Christains. I am disgusted. The former director and asst director are great women, and we loved all the caregivers there. We will miss them! My daughter is so upset, she doesn't understand why she doesn't get to see her friends and teachers anymore, and I don't know what to tell her. But I will not willfully expose my child to people that willfully discriminate against others. Unfortunately many of the members and leaders of the church will all be glad when they are rid of us; darn non-conforming "riffraff". So sad.

Somebody ought to sue them. That's discriminatiion at its finest. Churches are not expempt from the laws!

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/inquiries_religious.cfm

Religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, or societies are exempt from the federal laws that EEOC enforces when it comes to the employment of individuals based on their particular religion. In other words, an employer whose purpose and character is primarily religious is permitted to lean towards hiring persons of the same religion. This exception relieves religious organizations only from the ban on employment discrimination based on religion. It does not exempt such organizations from employing individuals due to their race, gender, national origin, disability, color, and/or age.

This is a very one-sided article. What does Michelle Bachman have to do with any of this? What about interviewing the parents who are happy about the change in management?

"it is unclear whether church officials hired and paid the daycare employees or whether they worked for another entity." That seems like important information to find out, and report in the article.

Perhaps you should re-read the article. It is stated that the church was contacted and did not return calls for this story. I would think that they would be a reliable source regarding whether they hired & paid employees or someone else. I am sure the writer wanted to confirm that info before stating it as fact...hence it being "unclear."
As far as Michelle Bachman goes, she is practically an anti-gay spokesperson. And after her being at the church they are now not allowing any homosexual workers. As if that has ANYTHING to do with a person's character or ability to care for a child.
You are correct about religious institutions being exempt regarding discrimination, but the question here was whether the school was run by the church or not. MOST preschools are located within churches simply because churches have the space and classrooms and they are only used on Sundays. It is a great way for them to make money on unused space. That does not mean that the preschool is run by the church. What information we are missing here is whether Happy Time had the ability to move to a different location and whether or not their preschool board is run by church members or not. That is why I called it a "hostile takeover". They enticed a long standing preschool within the community by offering their space and then turned around and acquired their students. Shady practice...not very Christian-like.

And speaking of no one returning phone calls, I am still waiting for the new director to call me back. I left a message on Monday. I was told that she wasn't calling anyone back because she didn't know what to say. She was passing her cell phone to employees when it rang because she didn't want to talk to any parents! C'mon!

amazing how unChristlike many so-called evangelical Christians are. Their motto: "Jesus loves you. But he likes me better."

So essentially Jesus himself would not be qualified to work here!

in Iowa it is unlawful to discriminate based on ace, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference.
how is this legal? I understand that they can choose who can enroll or not, but not their employees...can they?

Unfortunately churches are exempt from certain EEOC laws, however the purpose for the discrimination must be to serve their religious beliefs. Im not sure taking care of children fits into that category, but I am not a Lawyer either. Also, just because they can discriminate, doesn't mean they should. Shame on them, and I too, was a parent at Happy Time with 2 children attending, who were insanely attached to their teachers. It is the children who don't understand why they won't see their teachers and their friends anymore, and don't understand hatred and bigotry yet either. I will not knowingly expose them to any kind of people who are willing to spew such hatred at others, which is why I pulled my kids out as well. I also, have never received any kind of notice from the "church" I use the term loosely. If they are going to make the teachers sign a Christian Lifestyle agreement, then they certainly should make the parents sign one and their church members, however that would mean far less profits in daycare and far less money in the collection plate on Sunday, so they would never do that. Such a shame, Point of DISgrace church and Pastor Jeff Mullen.

It's unfortunate for the employees who lost their jobs and the families who don't agree with the mission of the new daycare. This kind of a disruption is hard for young children. But, there certainly can be an evangelizing or religious element to caring for children, and parents should be able to decide what daycare environment their kids see. This church is offering something that is probably consistent with what some parents want. They should be allowed to do so. Perhaps the staff of Happy Time should open a daycare at a new location. It sounds like they'd do well.

I do not believe that Michelle Bachman visiting any church would have anything to do with how they handle their childcare. Couldn't the former staff at Happy Time tell the writer of this article who the daycare was owned by/affiliated with. Most Evangelical Christians believe that homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible, Christ also said to love everyone. so doesn't it make sense that they want their staff to be living as good examples to people who attend the church? It is not "hatred" or "bigotry" as you put it Lacey. The people who have signed the Lifestyle Agreement are employees, that's a big difference from people who attend the church, or parents of children in the daycare.

Apparently they love their employees so much they fired them all. Everyone should know that this church practices bigotry in its hiring practices. It may be legal but this kind of hatred is frowned upon these days. Drinking is not allowed in your personal life? Ridiculous. Clearly Jesus drank wine. Alcohol....seriously. And homosexuality is not a lifestyle. It's just not. People who think it is are naive fools. And wrong. Get a proper education if you still believe in this crap. You better be following every other part of the purity code in the Hebrew bible if you adhere to just one or two. Sorry, can't pick and choose.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Homosexuality is a sin, huh? Wanna know what else is? Letting cattle graze with other kinds of cattle, wearing clothing made of more than one fabric, having a variety of crops in one field, having sex w/ a woman while she is on her period, eating shellfish, pork, rabbits & blood (I hope you like your steak well done!), shaving your face, having less than two testicles, & not marrying your rapist, just to name a few. But you know what IS acceptible according to the bible? Beating your children (so do they plan on implementing that type of discipline at POGA?), Eating your own feces & drinking your own pee, & rape. You can't pick and choose. The bible is not a suppose to be an ala carte.
Get your head out of the sand.

It's foggy because of the association to the religious institution, but these employees absolutely have a viable cause of action. If their conduct on the job and their ability to perform the required tasks was not the cause of their "termination", if you can even call it that, there is definitely a suit here. They were not rehired because of their sexual orientation; even with the loopholes the church has when it comes to EEOC, and even considering the strong case the church could make for their right to hire employees who espouse their beliefs, this is a very compelling discrimination claim. I hope it goes somewhere.

This is tragic. Not even for the beliefs in question, but for the way the people of Happy Time were treated. That alone is cause for weeping!

This is a misguided leadership decision at best; a serious blow to the building of God's kingdom at worst. Sad.

What's really too bad, is that it looks like POG had this in the works for a few weeks - likely even months - prior to giving the current employees notice. Organization papers for POG Academy were filled with the state on Aug. 2. The documents also list Dennis Patterson of Urbandale and Luke Vogel of West Des Moines, in addition to Pastor Jeff Mullen as directors. States that there are four directors, yet only three are listed. I would like to know how the arrangement was worked out between the church and the previous Happy Time owners. It all seems very sketchy.

I would also like to know how POG Academy expects to be in operation as a day care on Sept. 6 when they have no license from the state to operate as a child care facility? This is a new entity, therefore a new full license is required by law to operate which includes state inspections, background checks off all employees as well as a possible waiting time of 120 days before a license is issued. The state should be watching these people very closely.

"A person cannot establish or operate a child care center without obtaining a license.
A center must obtain a new license certificate when it expands or remodels to change licensed capacity. If you are going to remodel the center or expand the capacity of the center, contact your licensing consultant for a list of items that you must submit for approval.
A center must obtain a new license when another person or agency assumes ownership or legal responsibility for the center or if the center moves to a new location."

Awesome info Terry!
I suppose Jeff Mullen and his cronies believe they only answer to "god's law".

The amount of love you see in a place will reveal the truth to you about who they really are. Now that you know what kind of establishment they truly are, trust them to be exactly who they are. This is how many 'Christian' facilities operate. What does this tell you about America's Christianity?
Jesus speaks of love... not judgement. He speaks of acceptance. He even says to love your enemy. This is quite a trick because in loving your enemy, they become your friend.
Unfortunately, America's Christian establishments are not really living according to Jesus' teachings. If you wish for a more loving place... go out and find it. They do exist and they are known for their love and acceptance.
Aliya Trinity

If churches want to discriminate and not follow EEOC rules then churches should not receive federal money, plain and simple. I'm so tired of tax-exempt churches pushing politics while taking tax money. If they only want what they perceive as Christians working at their facility then they need to only be funded by donations from the parish and not by us who don't go to their church. That goes for all religions, not just Christian churches.

Shannon,
Tax-exempt means they don't pay IN taxes. It doesn't mean they are tax-payer funded. Churches are not funded by tax dollars.

The reason religious groups can discriminate based on religion and adherence to religious doctrine is this - would it make sense to hire an atheist to be a Pastor? Should an Islamic religious school be forced to hired Catholic nuns as teachers? And do you think the atheist and the nun might have a wee bit of trouble performing those jobs in a way that the church and school would find acceptable?

Aside from being un-Christianlike and immoral, POG are also apparent law breakers. I would like to see how this church expects to open their doors in a matter of weeks (Sept. 6) without having a state child care provider license? State law is clear that, "A center must obtain a new license when another person or agency assumes ownership or legal responsibility for the center or if the center moves to a new location."

I would be very leery if I were a parent who decided to enroll my child there. Someone needs to follow-up with the state to make sure these kids aren't put in the care of a provider who's never had proper background checks on their employees.

Churches don't have to be licensed in Washington State. I think if the church wants a church run childcare that is their right. The clients can choose to stay or go. Big money in centers and if the church wants to bank that money you can hardly blame them. We who don't attend that church really have no right to judge. Seperation of Church and State remember?

How can an employer ask to inspect the private home of an employee? Times are hard and a lot of people have had to take on roommates - and now if you took an opposite sex roommate they think they can discriminate against you? They need to be put in line with a big fat lawsuit.

An employer may ask anything. The Employee has the right to refuse by not taking employment.. It's a crazy world and I don't think it is their intent to keep anyone from renting their spare room. It's all about morals. This is a church after all. Seperation of Church and State allows them to act based on their faith.

Churches get all kinds of tax money. Faith-based initiatives is just one example of money that our government gives to churches.

Them's gonna be some messed up kiddos.

This is very sad, but I fear it may be a sign of the polarization among us. Those who are extremely religious are becoming aggressive in trying to "defend" their culture in ways like this.... and if you don't let them do it they feel that you are persecuting THEM.

If individuals want their children to attend a Godless child care center, there are plenty of good child care centers in the greater Des Moines area.

Jesus tells us to love the sinners - hate the sin. We all have sin - everyone of us. When you go to finger point, go into the bathroom and point it at YOU - yeah you. Sin is sin, whether is sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, me lusting after a woman, being bitter, prideful, etc. God doesn't discriminate - all sin separates us from him. Too many Christians are wanting to live with one foot in the world, and one foot in the church - and it ain't working folks. Look around you - America is a WICKED place - with many so-called "Christian" people leading the charge. When Michael Jackson died, my kids didn't even know who he was - praise God! We don't watch television, and work diligently to train our kids up in the ways of the Lord. We teach our children that it's not good for a man to touch a woman, to avoid fornication...that they should be married. If you want to shack up, have premarital sex, pet, watch vile stuff on TV, etc. - that's your right, go ahead. It's my right as a parent to NOT want you watching my kids. We're supposed to be in the world Christians, to bring the good news of the Gospel, but we're not supposed to be of the world. We're called to be a "peculiar" people - set apart, for GOD, for Jesus, who shed his blood for all of us. You can worship a rock, yourself, what ever you want - I respect that. But don't judge people who are trying to walk the narrow path for righteousness. Pull you kids out and put them in a "worldly" day care if this bothers you..

I give to the needy because I feel that we as human beings should take care of one another. I raise my children to respect others and listen to authority because they are the people of tomorrow, they are the ones that will make the world a better place. You do those things out of fear of eternal damnation. Which one is less selfish? You are not more righteous because you have a certain belief. The most rotten people I have known were "Christians". The kindest, least judgmental, most giving were those without a specific faith. I would rather surround myself with someone who is a good person because they choose to be, as opposed to someone who thinks they "have" to be because Jesus "says so".

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. If the point of this was to encourage a Christian lifestyle among the children's role models, they've targeted the wrong practices. Jesus said relatively little about sex, never criticized the drinking of alcohol, which He himself did. What Jesus spoke of most was how we obtain and use our money. Why not ask the employees to present receipts that show that 10% of their money goes to religious or humanitarian causes? The judgment day that Jesus describes focuses on whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick or imprisoned. If the church really wanted Christian role models, they'd ask for proof of those kinds of things.

Better look in a mirror - your bias is showing. Guess I will be withdrawing myself from the patch.

Thanks for your comment, jayney. Can I ask what you consider bias?