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Posted: 6/27/03

Discrimination alleged by

Missouri convention employee

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.–Already embroiled in a legal battle with five of its institutions, the Missouri Baptist Convention now faces an investigation by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for possible mistreatment of an employee.

Former convention controller Carol Kaylor said the EEOC will file formal discrimination charges against the convention within the next few weeks. Kaylor notified the EEOC of her intent to file charges after Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director David Clippard fired her April 10.

The convention's attorney, however, counters that Kaylor was fired by Clippard for engaging in “unauthorized tampering with the executive director's computer and e-mail files,” according to a convention news release.

Attorney Michael Whitehead said convention President Monte Shinkle appointed a committee to investigate the facts surrounding Kaylor's alleged misconduct, and the committee concluded the termination was justified.

Kaylor's attorney, however, contends the former controller was the victim of discrimination.

“Our basic contention is that she was forced out of her position because she opposed practices that were demeaning to her and to other employees of the Missouri Baptist Convention as women,” said attorney Michael Berry.

Although Kaylor has not yet released details of the case, she said she decided to take formal action because of treatment she has received since the convention hired Clippard in August.

“In my 18-plus years in the accounting profession, I've never experienced the kind of treatment I have experienced since August,” she said.

Shinkle responded: “We regret that Mrs. Kaylor feels that any anything said or done by Dr. Clippard was demeaning to her. Our investigation has convinced us that Dr. Clippard did not mistreat or demean anyone. A ministry organization has the right to expect undivided loyalty and candor from its management team. We have complete confidence in Dr. Clippard, and we are confident that this employment decision will be upheld as lawful.”

Kaylor said Clippard had “banned” her from the Baptist Building in Jefferson City.

Whitehead countered that was too strong a word.

“Any employee terminated under these circumstances would reasonably expect to be asked to restrict visits to the building for business purposes and to make appointments,” he said. “Mrs. Kaylor has been in the building on several occasions since her termination.”

The convention's news release pointed out that Kaylor had been hired into the position by the previous executive director, Jim Hill, who resigned because he said he could not work with the fundamentalist majority that had taken control of the convention's Executive Board.