Karen Pack
| Karen Pack | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Australian |
| 💼 Occupation | Christian Minister |
Karen Pack (born 1975) is co-pastor at New City Church, Sydney.[1] She was the subject of recent[when?] controversy because of her firing from Morling College on the basis of her sexuality.[2]
Education
Pack obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Teaching (Hons) from the University of Sydney.[3] Her majors in the bachelor's degree were History and English.[1] She has a Master of Divinity from Regent College in Vancouver.[3]
Pack is currently completing her PhD in Religious History.[1] Her topic is "unmarried Christian women engaged in social activism outside the church, from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century."[3]
Career
Pack is an ordained minister. She has also served as a missionary.[2]
Pack was the Leader of Leaders Program Director for World Outreach International.[3]
Pack has been teaching for 25 years.[2] She has trained pastors, leaders and teachers across the world, including in Australia, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.[1]
On her website she describes herself as "Speaker, Celebrant, Historian, Pastor."[4]
Pack is currently[when?] a co-pastor at New City Church. New City Church describes itself as being "born out of a need for safe spaces in which people can explore faith in fresh and exciting ways."[1]
Controversy
In 2021, Pack was sacked for being gay from the Baptist college where she worked.[2] Current Australian law allows churches and religious institutions to fire people based on their sexual orientation.[5][6] These laws have often been used to remove LGBTQ+ teachers, students and staff.[2] Morling College, Sydney, does not support same-gender marriage.
Pack notes that she has been closeted even to herself for many years because of teaching that says individuals cannot be both gay and Christian.[7] She had been open about her sexuality for a number of years before she started at Morling College.[7]
Pack says that she was clear about her sexuality when she signed the contract to become an adjunct lecturer in February 2018.[2] Pack was a lecturer in chaplaincy, spiritual care and interfaith relations.[8][7] In 2019, her role was confirmed again after she agreed to affirm that marriage was between a man and a woman.[2]
When Pack became engaged to her long-term partner, Bronte Scott, the college received increasing pressure to fire Pack.[9][7][10]
It is alleged that the school received an email at the start of 2020, stating that Pack needs to be "denounced immediately" and that the college needed to "distance itself from her demonic actions."[2]
Morling College has stated that it was Pack's decision to leave.[2][5] In a letter to students, Pack was described as an "excellent and committed educator."[2] The letter also said that the decision was made by Principal Ross Clifford with support from the Morling College Board.[9]
Pack reportedly will not pursue legal action, but was willing to speak out against this practice of teachers being fired from Christian schools because of their sexual orientation.[2][11]
Pack spoke about her experiences on the JoyFM Saturday magazine podcast. She noted that she was overwhelmed with messages of support following the airing of a segment concerning her sacking on ABC's 7.30 report.[7]
Publications
- Pack, Karen. "The Single Saviour: How the Singleness of Jesus of Nazareth Might Impact contemporary Discipleship of Single Christians". The Impact of Jesus of Nazareth. Wipf and Stock. Search this book on
- Pack, Karen (2012). "Justive, Mercy, and Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives". In Bolt, P. G. & Harrison, J. R. Justice, Mercy and Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications. pp. 178–190.CS1 maint: Multiple names: editors list (link) Search this book on
- Pack, Karen (2016). "Mateship - A Holy Alliance: Rediscovering Covenant Friendship in the Contemporary Australian Church". Zadok Perspectives. 133: 13–16.
- Pack, Karen (2010). "Single and Sexual: the Challenge of Holiness for Unmarried Christians". Crux. 46 (2): 13–18.
Family
In 2021, Karen Pack and Bronte Scott were married in a Paddington Uniting Church.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "New City Church". newcitychurch.com.au. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "This teacher was praised as an 'excellent' educator, but says she was sacked by her employer for being gay. The college disputes this". www.abc.net.au. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Karen M Pack | Macquarie University - Academia.edu". mq.academia.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ "Karen Pack | UNPACKED International | Speaker | Celebrant". unpacked. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Lesbian teacher 'sacked by Catholic school' after she was called 'demonic' in letter". PinkNews - Gay news, reviews and comment from the world's most read lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans news service. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ Mountains, About the Author Linc Jenkin Linc grooms dogs for a living in the Blue; fun, writes for the Star Observer in his spare time for (2021-04-08). "Sydney Christian College Sacks Educator For Being Gay". Star Observer. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Karen Pack, sacked teacher, speaks out". Saturday Magazine. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ "Are greater protections needed for LGBTQ+ staff and students in faith-based schools?". www.theeducatoronline.com. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Lesbian teacher speaks out about sacking from Sydney religious school". QNews. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ Cooridinator, DNA Online (2021-04-09). "Australian Educator Sacked, Allegedly For Being Gay". DNA. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ↑ "LGBTQ+ teachers and students in faith-based educational institutions need urgent protection". Equality Australia. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
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