Jewish man sues Christian school in Portland for discrimination

PORTLAND, Ore. — An applicant for a professor job claims in a lawsuit that a small private Christian liberal arts college in Portland discriminated against him by refusing to hire him because he’s Jewish.

In the lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Noel M. King said he applied for an adjunct professor of psychology position at Warner Pacific College in April 2014. On his application, he said, he indicated he adheres to the Hebrew faith.

Oregon law states it is not an unlawful employment practice for a bona fide church or other religious institution to prefer an applicant of one religious sect or persuasion over another.

Warner Pacific spokesman Dale Seipp said the college is grounded in the Christian scriptures and believes in mission-based hiring.

“The college prefers that its leaders and instructors actively practice the Christian faith,” Seipp said in a statement.

He also said Warner Pacific respects other religions and supports the rights of all religious entities to exercise a preference in hiring individuals who maintain the religious beliefs of the institution.

The lawsuit by King says the college did not state in its job posting that being a Christian was required or that hiring would be predicated on practicing the faith. King noted that the college stated only that it hired qualified instructors who agree to respect Christ-centered values and Christian faith.

The college knew of King’s faith throughout the four-month application process and a committee recommended that King be hired after three interviews and a teaching demonstration, according to the lawsuit.

However, King says Warner Pacific’s president Andrea Cook directed officials to reject him over his religion.

King was the only candidate who made it through the interview process, according to the suit. The college did not hire anyone else for the job.

Christopher J. Graves, King’s lawyer, said that’s discrimination because the school had a blanket policy of not hiring anyone who isn’t Christian instead of choosing one who is Christian over another who isn’t.

Preference “is a question of which one you choose, not of not choosing at all,” said Graves.

King says he missed out on applying for other jobs because Warner Pacific strung him along. He is seeking damages of $268,000.

If he had known of the intention to exclude all other religions, King says he wouldn’t have applied for a job at the college or spent months on the application process that included a declaration of faith about belief and respect for the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

Lynnwood
Fatal 2-car crash closes Highway 99 in Lynnwood

Police closed off Highway 99 between 188th Street SW and 196th Street SW while they investigated.

Mike Bredstrand, who is trying to get back his job with Lake Stevens Public Works, stands in front of the department’s building on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Bredstrand believes his firing in July was an unwarranted act of revenge by the city. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens worker was fired after getting court order against boss

The city has reportedly spent nearly $60,000 on attorney and arbitration fees related to Mike Bredstrand, who wants his job back.

Chap Grubb, founder and CEO of second-hand outdoor gear store Rerouted, stands inside his new storefront on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Gold Bar, Washington. Rerouted began as an entirely online shop that connected buyers and sellers of used gear.  (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Used outdoor gear shop Rerouted finds a niche in Gold Bar

Seeking to keep good outdoor gear out of landfills, an online reselling business has put down roots in Gold Bar.

Naval Station Everett. (Chuck Taylor / Herald file)
Everett man sentenced to 6 years for cyberstalking ex-wife

Christopher Crawford, 42, was found guilty of sending intimate photos of his ex-wife to adult websites and to colleagues in the Navy.

Most Read