SUING
FOR THE SABBATH

Topics: Career; Commitment; Convictions; Courage; Example; Freedom; Integrity; Overcoming; Persecution; Sabbath; Ten Commandments; Testing

References: Genesis 2:1–2; Exodus 20:8–11; 23:12; Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 4:9–11

A public library in Savannah, Missouri, decided to open on Sunday. As a result, Connie Rehm, a librarian for twelve years, found herself squeezed between honoring the Sabbath and keeping a job she considered to be “a gift from God.” Rehm chose to worship on Sundays and was terminated by the library.

Rehm decided to file a lawsuit against the library, claiming religious discrimination. When it became clear that the ex-employee had a strong case, the library offered a financial settlement. According to Rehm’s attorney, David Gibbs, the library wanted “to deal with it as a financial matter, attempting to simply pay to make Rehm and her claim go away.” He added, “One of the unique elements of this case is that Connie wasn’t interested in money; she wanted her job back. That’s an uncommon situation.”

Three years after her initial termination in 2003, a Missouri jury ordered the library to reinstate Connie Rehm to her job. It also awarded her $53,712 in damages as compensation for lost wages.

“A middle-American, mild-mannered, small-town library person—I attribute to the Lord a great sense of humor for having picked me for this test,” Rehm said. “What price is my religious freedom? What is it worth? It’s not a matter of displaying the Ten Commandments. It’s being able to live the Ten Commandments, and that’s what my employer was asking me not to do.”

—Dana Fields, “Woman Wins Religious Discrimination Case,” Houston Chronicle (November 16, 2006)