I’m blessed to work for a woman who fearlessly sought the services of a Workplace Chaplain.
In contrast, just yesterday, I spoke with a lady who, sadly, informed me that the firm had just released a memo instructing the employees to remove any Scriptures they had posted on their cubicle walls. I once worked for a company that made that same demand.
Recently, a friend who heads the HR department for a local Fortune 500 company informed me that the reason they could not have a Workplace Chaplain on the premises was because their legal department was concerned about lawsuits.
Fear, basically.
Last night, just before I hit the sack, I channel-surfed and caught a story on ABC’s Nightline called “Voodoo Economics.” You can watch the story HERE. Basically, the feature had to do with corporations who are turning to Corporate Psychics to make business decisions. The main Corporate Psychic that was interviewed – a 49-year old mother who referred to herself as an “Intuitive” – who earns MILLIONS by serving as a consultant to, among others, a financial group, a billion dollar technology company and a movie studio.
Why aren’t the legal departments of these firms recognizing that this is a religious issue as well? Employees should be screaming “Church ‘n State!” and contacting the ACLU.
Surely you can see the differences between having a Corporate Psychic on board vs. a Workplace Chaplain, right? Trust me, there are MANY!
If you’re a Christian Business Owner who is concerned about hiring a Workplace Chaplain, don’t be. God will bless you for doing so. He has not given you a Spirit of Fear.
If you’re an employee who’s beliefs are being stifled just because they’re of the Christian genre cry foul! Title VII is on your side. Work within its perimeters and you’ll be fine. According to an article on Faith at Work on msnbc.com, “Formal allegations of religious discrimination in the workplace have almost doubled in a decade. In fiscal 1992, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 1,388 such complaints under Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. In fiscal 2004, it received 2,466 complaints.”
As English philosopher, Edmund Burke, said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing."
If you’re a Workplace Chaplain, and the secular world is presenting you with a similar double standard, shake the dust off your feet and move on. Jesus said there’d be days like this. There are plenty of hurting people out there who need your ministry and will swing wide the doors to get you on board with their firm. Just pray for, and expect, Divine appointments according to Luke 10:2b. I marvel at the number that I receive!
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
Workplace Chaplain
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