School Employee Refuses to Support Anti-Biblical NEA Causes

by Jim Brown
July 23, 2004

(AgapePress) - A Christian mother of three in Michigan has taken on the National Education Association and won.

Shawn Austin of Saranac is a part-time transportation secretary for her local school district. Austin refused to pay her membership fees to the Michigan Education Association because of its support for abortion and homosexual activism. Taking that stand has made her a hero in the Christian community.

"The Bible is very clear on both of those issues," Austin says, "and I had a difficult time allowing my money to go to support issues that are [promoting] what the Bible tells us is wrong."

After the school district employee sent a letter to the MEA outlining her biblical reasons for opposing homosexuality, the national union (NEA) and the local union jointly set up a hearing. Austin says they basically subjected her to a sort of inquisition, in which they grilled her about her Christian convictions.

"Once I had explained it in written form," Austin says, "I did have to go before a local panel. There were five people on the panel -- four of whom worked within the school district that I work in, and one was an MEA representative for our local area."

With help from the National Right to Work Committee, Austin was able to obtain "religious objector" status and permission to redirect her union dues to a scholarship fund for Saranac students.