Judge okays college's ban on female teachers

Leaders of a prominent Southern Baptist seminary in Dallas, USA, who believe women are biblically forbidden from teaching men were within their rights when they told a female professor to leave, a federal judge has ruled.

Sheri Klouda was the only female professor teaching at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Theology when officials decided not to renew her contract in 2006.

Klouda claimed seminary officials breached an oral contract guaranteeing she would remain employed if her performance was favourable.

Seminary officials maintain Klouda was not dismissed but was told she would not be granted tenure. They said their actions were based on ecclesiastical decisions protected under the First Amendment’s religion clauses.

US district judge John McBryde agreed, dismissing Klouda’s claims. "I’m disappointed by the outcome but...it wasn’t totally unexpected," Klouda said.