Summary
A Gordon College associate professor of social work with an advanced degree in theology applied for promotion to full professorship, but her application was declined in 2016 because her performance fell short of the college’s expectations for faculty scholarship and institutional service. She also revealed that she no longer agrees with significant religious beliefs in the college’s covenantal documents that she had to reaffirm every year of her employment. Nonetheless, she filed suit over the college’s decision.
On February 28, the Supreme Court denied a hearing to Gordon college’s case—for now—and so the case will return to the lower court. Even though the Supreme Court decided not to review this case at this time, we are pleased to see the concurring opinion from four of the Justices explaining that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s “understanding of religious education is troublesome,” Gordon College is free to ask the high court to hear its case at a later stage of litigation. The First Amendment protects the rights of religious colleges to select who teaches its faith or fulfills its mission. The government should not interfere with these religious decisions.
Case timeline
- 2017: Because she was not promoted, Professor DeWeese-Boyd filed a lawsuit against Gordon College.
- March 2021: The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled in favor of DeWeese-Boyd. In so doing, the court held that Gordon College’s professors were not essential to its religious mission because not all professors led worship service or student prayer.
- August 2021: Gordon College asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Massachusetts court’s decision.
- February 2022: The Supreme Court said that Gordon College’s request for Supreme Court review was premature but invited the College to file another petition later in the proceedings.
