KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former music instructor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is suing the school for breach of contract and failure to pay wages.
Douglas Manley, who lives in Cleveland, Tenn., following his termination last December from the seminary in Kansas City, Mo., is seeking $18,666.66 in unpaid salary.
Midwestern President Phil Roberts dismissed Manley Dec. 31 for allegedly viewing Internet pornography on his seminary-owned computer.
Manley claims the seminary still owes him the unpaid portion of his $32,000 annual contract, citing a seminary policy that says terminated faculty members shall be paid until the end of the fiscal year.
In his termination letter to Manley, Roberts said the firing was based on “departure from the basic tenets” of the “Baptist Faith and Message.” It cited Article XV, which says Christians should oppose “all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography.”
Manley was appointed an instructor of music by then Interim President Michael Whitehead in June 2000 and reappointed by Roberts a year later.
He claims the seminary is obligated to pay his salary through July 31, 2002, even if it terminates his employment before then. Manley said he has made attempts to settle to no avail. He filed suit March 29 in Jackson County (Mo.) Circuit Court and requested a jury trial.
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