A letter from the Disciples of Christ regional minister says the Brite Divinity School representative who alleges he was discriminated against because he’s gay was asked not to participate in interviews because of a lack of trust and respect.
Stephen Sprinkle, Brite’s director of field education, said he was barred from interviewing ordination candidates from Jan. 12-14. Regional minister Robert Rueter said in a letter that Sprinkle was asked not to participate in interviews because of a petition Sprinkle filed in the 48th Judicial District Court in October.
The petition was filed to investigate possible defaming claims and conspiracy to interfere with Sprinkle’s employment by officials in the Region and Brite students. Sprinkle was being investigated by the Region for alleged sexual misconduct when the petition was filed, according to affidavits filed by members of the Region. The petition was denied by Judge David Evans in a court hearing Feb. 12.
“Mr. Sprinkle’s court filing is inconsistent with the level of mutual trust and respect required for and expected of the members of the Committee on the Ministry,” Rueter said in the letter.
Rueter said in the letter that Sprinkle fully participated in the three-day meeting activities except for the interviewing sessions, from which he was asked to excuse himself by committee chairman Ben Hubert.
Before the petition was filed, Sprinkle’s status in the Region was in question, said the letter from Rueter. Sprinkle cut ties with the Region when he resigned his standing in the church Feb. 12.
Richard Griffin, Sprinkle’s attorney, said at the court hearing that Sprinkle’s employment at Brite is not as secure as it once was.
“I think it’s untrue,” Brite President Newell Williams said when asked about Griffin’s statement.
Williams said Sprinkle will remain field education director. He said because Brite is affiliated with United Methodist Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as well as the Christian Church, there is no requirement that the field education director be a member of the Christian Church.
Williams said that because Sprinkle has resigned his standing and is no longer acting on behalf of the Region, he will not be allowed to interview ordination candidates in the future.
