Fired man suffers tithing pain

Man says he lost job at church for not putting enough in collection

By Rachel Boomer
The Daily News, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Saturday, April 8, 2006

When Wayne Gardner lost his job, it wasn't just a financial crisis. It was a crisis of faith.

Gardner has been a member of the Salvation Army for 16 years. Until two months ago, he was the ministry co-ordinator at the Salvation Army's Cornerstone Family Centre, a family support centre in Spryfield. His wife and three children - dedicated Salvation Army members - attended church there, and played in the band.

But his boss was also his pastor, and that, Gardner believes, was his downfall. On Feb. 20, Gardner was fired, he said, after months of being told he wasn't putting enough into the collection plate.

"I was questioned on my faith, that if I had a stronger faith I would still tithe anyway, and that God would provide," Gardner said. "We were giving what we could afford."

Yesterday, the Salvation Army's national office settled Gardner's claim against it, giving him a year's severance pay and a year's worth of medical benefits while he looks for another job.

Medical benefits are crucial. Gardner's wife, Sandra has cancer; the disease has spread to her bone marrow. Their youngest son has a rare syndrome that makes him at risk for heart attacks. Medication for the two can cost more than $700 a month, most of which is covered by Gardner's medical benefits.

Gardner said yesterday he couldn't afford to give 10 per cent, or tithe, and said it wasn't a condition of his job. At $31,000 a year, and with medical expenses, they couldn't afford the $160 a month that Gardner said his supervisor, Capt. James Mercer, expected of him.

After five months of being repeatedly told to tithe, Gardner said, he filed a harassment complaint with the Salvation Army. Just over a week later, he lost his job.

"I was shocked. I was stunned. How could my own people do this to us?"

The news drove them from their church, where the family had performed in the band. His youngest son overheard his parents worrying about the future, and offered to sell his toys.

He filed a complaint with the provincial Labour Standards Board, worried about his family's future once his medical benefits run out April 18. That complaint has now been resolved, because of the settlement.

Salvation Army spokeswoman Diane van der Horden wouldn't say much about Gardner's case.

"The Salvation Army viewed this as an employee-relations matter," van der Horden said. "We worked diligently towards a fair and equitable settlement for Mr. Gardner."

rboomer@hfxnews.ca