Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

At work we have Employee Resource Groups (ERG's) to help promote diversity and inclusion. CERG is one of those groups and it stands for Christian Employee Resource Group. Today, they are hosting a discussion on Christians & Gays in the Workplace - - Building a better workplace through mutual understanding!

Dear CERG Body,

We are embarking on a discussion this coming Friday that I think will be very beneficial, from a scriptural stand point for as many to attend as possible. We have partnered with MTA, the Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender group from MDT Memphis.

This, I believe will be a landmark discussion between the two groups, not because of the content, as much as what the Holy Spirit will have to share with all who choose to attend.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I'm thinking work should be about work.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

Imagine that.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

Is that what we pay people to do?

Unless you manufacture rainbow flags.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I might listen in - - curious as to what scripture they are going to be using.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

"...God is love..." :bliss

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I think it can be a productive discussion. Gays are not always the ones being discriminated against or mistreated by co-workers. Sometimes it's the Christian who is often mistreated by gay co-workers and those who think the Christian is a biggot.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I worked for General Electric in the Evendale area of SW Ohio from February 14, 1966 until I retired March 1, 1998.

Over the years we had lots of "affirmative action" programs imposed on us by the government. We had quotas of African Americans we had to meet in our different areas. I know personally of one job that was open and the person hiring told me "I get one star if I hire an African American and two stars if I hire an African American woman." At one time we had 20,000 people working there and when I left that number was down to 8,500. When we would go through reduction in forces or layoffs we were told that one of the considerations as to who was laid off and who stayed was based on maintaining the proper employee racial mix. Not long ago I had lunch with a man who was still working at GE and he told me he had been in a meeting earlier that day where he was told that GE had to put more effort into hiring GLBT's.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

That is a reason to install more robotics on the work floor. They work 3 shifts and don't whine. No such thing as a gay robot that wants parental leave for a baby they never gave birth to.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

GE outsourced much of their machine shop and other manufacturing work and moved their jet engine assembly operation out of state because of the unions and their strangle hold and work stopping/slowing tactics.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

If they think "homosexual activity incites eternal damnation, and separates one from God as do other sins" is bigoted, then there really is not much productive discussion that can be garnered betwixt the two though right?

"from a scriptural stand point"? I think they want acceptance of their lifestyle from a scriptural standpoint RG, that is simply not possible.

Also, the "Holy Spirit" speaks first and foremost through the written Word.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

:ursofunny


Still, I would be against giving away American jobs to robots and self-scan grocery check-outs.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I heart self scan grocery check out lines.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I usually avoid self scan and self bag lines.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

When at work we need to realize... we're not behind an pulpit... and unless someone shows interest in our thoughts, we best keep them to ourselves while on the clock. There is a time and place for everything.

Personally, when speaking to homosexuals, I encourage that we ALL need a relationship with Jesus. I state that we're all sinners and that Jesus came to wash us clean and change us from the inside out. I emphasize the power of the Holy Ghost and Grace. Most who hear me out realize that I'm not biggotted in the slightest. I'm just sharing my belief. And yes, I do believe that God can and does save individuals who struggle with a given sin their entire lives long. We don't earn our salvation. All who do receive eternal life will stand before Him with the knowledge that they far from deserved it.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

It is hard for you to connect the dots. Americans have jobs building designing, repairing robots and POS devices.
The thread is about gays. Homosexual issues are a stable source of referals for the counseling trades. Those are jobs we can't outsource to North Korea.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

:toofunny

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

Very well, I can respect that. A gay person is not a "greater" sinner than I or anyone else. It's fine as long as they are not seeking justification for sin.

Just have no interest in giving a platform to heretics begging to be heard.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I do not use self serve check outs....ever! It's a personal thing. I've worked too much retail I guess, but it's taking jobs away.:razz

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

In my experience... everyone tries to justify their sin. I've seen preachers tell white lies and justify it. I've seen people try to justify ungodly lifestyles. My approach is this... I don't waste time confronting their efforts to justify sin. I befriend and share faith in Jesus. If possible, we talk about the Bible. At some point in discussion or in a Bible study the Holy Ghost will allow the subject to be addressed by the Word. I let the Word do the convicting.

Re: Christians & Gays in the Workplace
 

I listened in on the meeting - - there were two speakers - - one from the gay ERG and one from the Christian ERG. The chair of the gay ERG sent this email out after the meeting:

Regarding last Friday's activity with CERG, we had the best intentions to address the following items:
- Built a better workplace through mutual understanding
- Pave the way for any MTA member that would be interested to pursue any spiritual advancement as we truly believe that every human being is entitled to do so and because we truly believe that sexual orientation should not interfere with anyone while seeking God.

We had several previous meetings where the message, content and style were carefully chosen, at least from MTA's perspective. We insisted in a very specific message, one of being positive, constructive, non-confrontational, one where Gays and Christians can learn from one another.
Specifically, we wanted to emphasize gay discrimination by telling a little bit of gay history and current struggles (gays victims of the Holocaust, the AIDS epidemics, bullying and teen suicide to name a few). Our purpose was to send a message that discrimination is NOT a Christian value, and to appeal to the Christian's conscience.

Unfortunately, we feel like the activity got out of hand. Specifically, we do not agree with Chris Lyon's speech despite his good intentions. We think it was confrontational and that his style was not appropriate for a professional setting. We think that he navigated very sensitive issues for gay and lesbian people, and that they are simply not a matter of discussion, even less in a work environment. In conclusion, we don't agree with the content or approach of his message.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this has brought to you. This matter is being discussed and the appropriate people are aware of this. I also had a meeting with Chris Lyons were I expressed my disagreement to his speech. He has apologized, he was not aware that so much damage was brought to our efforts.

We don't want to close the door of any future interactions as we still believe that anybody who wants to pursue Christianity for spiritual advancement is more than entitled to do so. However, unless major changes are made to CERG's approach and message we would NOT be participating in any of these activities.

We want to reinforce, one more time that Medtronic Triangle Alliance's purpose is to make people comfortable in the workplace for what they are, regardless of their sexual orientation and or identity, and that we do not want to change anybody in anyway, or give them a choice of any kind. In addition we are not comparing any lifestyle to the one of others that are publicly condenmed, we also don't question the nature or the cause of the lifestyle that a specific person might have. We value each one of our members and encourage you to be authentic and live comfortably.

Thank you for being a member!