WINTER PARK, Fla. — Saying they "chose to leave," the head of Aloma Methodist Church is disputing claims by two former teachers who say they lost their jobs because the church found out they are gay.
In an interview with Nine Investigates, the Rev. Jim Govatos of Aloma United Methodist Church explained that the church has a policy about moral behavior that all employees sign. Govatos said the teachers weren't fired, but rather quit their jobs after being asked about their relationship.
"When employees come to work here they are shown the policy and they sign off on it. What we are trying to do with that policy is to hold our employees and lay leadership to a lifestyle that reflects God's best intentions for Christian discipleship," Govatos said. "People come to church in all sort of situations, all kind of living situations. We accept them (and) we receive them but our leadership, that level is held to the policy."
In April, Nine Investigates first reported on the termination of pre-K teacher Jaclyn Pfeiffer Aloma Methodist Early Childhood Learning Center. Jaclyn and her partner Kelly Bardier both worked at the school; Pfeiffer was a full-time teacher and Bardier was a substitute. According to Pheiffer, rumors of her sexual orientation began to circulate after her girlfriend Bardier took a job in another part of the school as a substitute teacher. She says while the two kept their relationship private, one day the director of the school called her in to her office to confront her about the relationship.
Pfeiffer says a few days after the conversation with the school's director she was told to come by the school and pick up her things. At about the same time a letter from the school's director went out to parents explaining only that, "due to personal reasons" Pfeiffer would not be teaching at Aloma any longer.
Govatos says the head of the school did meet with the women, but he says no ultimatums were given. The church maintains it was still trying to work things out with the women, when they texted the school director to say they wouldn't be coming back.
"They hadn't been fired and it wasn't because of their orientation," Govatos said.
In a written statement, the church said, "The two teachers were counseled about their relationship as a violation of local church policy and out of concern for their spiritual well-being."
"We were told that if we changed our lifestyle and we were no longer gay then we could keep our positions," Bardier said.
Last week, the couple agreed to a legal settlement with the church. As part of the agreement, the women will receive a positive letter of recommendation, the school will tell future employers the women left on their own, the women will have a face-to-face meeting in Lakeland with Florida Methodist Bishop Ken Carter, Bardier will receive $8,100 and Pheiffer will receive $7,476.
After the meeting, the bishop will send a letter to all Methodist churches across the state reminding them of the church's policy of inclusion.
"She cannot change the fact that she is gay, and if she can't be gay and work there, then she's fired," said Mary Meeks, an attorney who represented the teachers in the case.
Meeks says even if they weren't explicitly told they were fired, the message from school leadership was clear.
In a letter obtained by Eyewitness News on Friday from the superintendent of the Florida Conference to the school, Annette Pendergrass wrote: "I understand that you decisions regarding Ms. Pfeiffer and Ms. Bardier were based on your longstanding views and biblical understandings. However, The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2012, paragraph 161.F states that 'All persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured."'
The letter to the school continues, "To the extent that Aloma UMC took action against Ms. Pfeiffer and Ms. Bardier based on their sexual orientation, such actions were improper."
Also, as part of the settlement agreement, Aloma Methodist leadership will be meeting with the group Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays as well as with a group called Reconciling Ministries.
Aloma Methodist Early Childhood Learning Center provides voluntary pre-kindergarten and in its most recent inspection by the Florida Department of Children and Families has the capacity for 99 children, though only 70 were present at the inspection carried out in April of 2014. The state of Florida pays for voluntary pre-kindergarten with a base student allotment of $2,442 for the school year (Orange County) and $2,080 for the summer for each child enrolled.