Yesterday, one of my clients (the mom) informed me of an opportunity to become a permanent guitar teacher at their church (which also happens to be my parents'...Johnson Ferry Bapitist Church) due to their previous teacher's recent incapacitating illness. Although the gig only pays $40 an hour, they would be handing me over 20 students, giving me a HUGE boost to my income (as well as maxing out my available teaching hours). This opportunity was too good to pass up, so I called the right people to start getting the wheels in motion.
Now, although the people that were interviewing me were people I knew from my many hours of student attendance and service at the church during high school, that didn't stop them from requiring me to sign a "Doctrinal Statement of Faith" before considering me for a teaching position. While the rest of the application was fine (even the stuff that mentioned the mission of the music school there being to glorify Christ), this "statement of faith" was so specific that I couldn't bring myself to lie to them. Here's some of what it says, asking me to sign at the bottom that I agree with it entirely:
- I affirm my confidence in the Bible as the divinely and uniquely inspired Word of God, the unrivaled and infallible authority in determining one's faith and guiding one's behavior.
- I claim Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, the very God who came in human flesh, the object of my worship and the subject of my praise.
- I anticipate my Lord's promised return which could occur at any moment.
- I am convinced that all who have died will be resurrected - believers to everlasting communion with God, and unbelievers to everlasting separation from God.
Then, after this, I was to write "a brief review of your conversion experience or how you became a Christian." Look, as much as I would have liked the money, I just have too much integrity to lie about something so serious to this music school. I don't believe any of the stuff they wanted me to sign, and although I told them this in as nice a way as possible, they still didn't want me to even substitute for the sick teacher for a few weeks, despite being in a crunch.
This whole thing really bothers me, for lots of reasons: I'm not making more money, I've had to turn down an offer I was more than qualified to do, and perhaps I've let down some of my old church members. The music minister I interviewed with did say he would like to catch up for lunch sometime, and he somewhat insincerely said he would possibly recommend me to clients they couldn't help (on their wait list), but somehow this just doesn't make me feel any better.
Whatever, I believe what I believe, and to be discriminated against a little bit (if I can call it that, considering churches are legally allowed to do this) just comes with the territory, I suppose. The crazy thing is that as much as I don't like religion, I was willing to compromise and teach at the church, obeying their rules (including removing my earrings) and trying to not say anything contrary to their beliefs, but I guess they weren't willing to meet me half way. Oh well...
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3 comments:
I can certainly understand the doctrinal litmus test for someone who would be music director of this specific church, but I think it's a mistake for them to limit themselves to (essentially) fundamentalist Christian musicians for the music school. For me, one of the elements of "sacred music" is the music-making process, and teaching is a key part of that. Teaching music invites people to be a part of something greater than themselves. If it is the mission of this music school to help people encounter the divine through music, they are shooting themselves in the foot. Perhaps my word verification graphic describes it best: "shamo".
Thanks for the support, Sinden (by the way, great to hear from you...it's been too long!). This whole thing got me down, so it's good to have a little backup, especially from someone who is actively involved with church music.
The way I look at it is that in teaching the church kids I would only mention religious concepts just as infrequently as I do in my other lessons, which is to say not at all. Why would god need to be mentioned in a music lesson where I'm teaching them rock music? (which is what they said I would be doing).
Conversely, I don't teach my other students anything that could be considered sacrilegious, so why would I with Christian kids?
I mean, do they ask their janitors to sign the same form? Their job doesn't involve their beliefs any more than mine does.
Hell, I could even teach these kids how to play hymns, praise songs, and other Christian music if they like (I have in the past), so what's the problem?
Whatever. Thanks for your support. It means a lot. I hope things are going really well for you!
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