Aibu to feel like a second class citizen for not sharing the faith? Job related.

[witsender]

I tried to name change but couldn't, so hey ho.

I work for a Christian charity. I am agnostic and this has never been an issue, I started as a volunteer and when a job came up I started working there. I love my job, and bar the odd comment from volunteers expressing the belief that Christians/Christian volunteers are better it has all been fine.

A new role has come up which is a step up. I have all the relevant experience and know the organisation too,but it has increasingly been made clear that I wouldn't get it as I am not a Christian. Obviously this hasn't been said upfront but 4 out of the 5 trustees are religious and want a believer and have said as much, and the manager has said that in his heart of hearts he wants someone of the faith to help him 'uphold the moral code' and to ensure the Christian element isn't diluted. At the same time they are telling me that I am welcome to apply.

This has really tainted the whole thing for me. The work we do is in no way faith based, so it doesn't impact my work or complete dedication. It makes me feel like a second class citizen to be honest, and even if by some miracle (excuse the pun) I were to get the job, I feel like it would be even though most of the people there don't want me.

I can't decide if I am being over sensitive though?

Update for those interested, found out today that my boss has shortlisted me into the final 3 to be interviewed, trustees said vetoed me. All of whom I know well and get on with, so it isn't that they don't like me or whatever. So no interview for me! He told me that yes, I did meet all the job and person specification, but the unacknowledged elephant in the room was that I'm not a churchgoer. I was also told that as I am a "mummy" I have commitments outside of work that mean I might not be available outside of working hours to go to meetings etc. Because family has to come first. And that I'm too good at my current job and they don't want to have to replace me.

Of course I have been told that they love and value me, and I'm amazing at my role etc...But I'm feeling pretty shit right now.

"We want to be quite clear we're not discriminating against you because of your religious beliefs, it's because you're a woman."

Yeah, because a non-christian wouldn't know anything about having good morals

Indeed. I would feel really insulted by this implication.

I would ask them to explain why exactly they think this and how they can back it up with proof. Perhaps that'd make them understand that it really has nothing at all to do with it.

And that I'm too good at my current job and they don't want to have to replace me.

I don't know if you can leave without it having severe negative consequences.

But I think, in your place, I would.

Then perhaps they'll think a bit harder next time they don't promote a woman because they don't want to have to replace her.

I'd find it really hard not to ask them to decide whether they're discriminating on religious or sexual grounds as currently it appears to be both

|"And that I'm too good at my current job and they don't want to have to replace me."
Have they seriously not considered that they'd have to replace you if you left in disgust?

Make a full record of everything you remember from the conversation ASAP, then get legal advice.

Eek....that's not good. I think I'd have to ask for those reasons in writing....

It's incredibly odd though, all the staff are women! And I already do loads of hours outside of my core ones...So tbh I felt like it was a load of fluff to distract from the main issue, not being a churchgoer. Which couldn't be said outright of course, despite their admittance that that was what they really wanted.

I was then asked why I had applied for it, did I not like my current role. I said I was looking for progression etc in the long run, and was told that it is a small charity without that potential. I looked a little confused at that point and pointed out that that was why I had applied for this role! 😂

Anyway. I will keep my powder dry for now and look elsewhere. The hours work, and I love what I do. This has tainted it for me sadly, and I feel really resentful which I hate. Especially as we work so hard for so little, and now I feel unvalued by the trustees as well.

*the manager has said that in his heart of hearts he wants someone of the faith to help him 'uphold the moral code......' And here we go again,with the assumption that because you do not practice a religion and are an agnostic or an atheist ,you cannot possibly be a good,decent person with any morals.