Originally Posted - August 21, 2006

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WATERTOWN---Is there discrimination practiced in the Watertown church?

First he dismissed 81-year-old Mary Lambert from the Diaconate Board of the First Baptist Church along with two members, claiming there were attendance issues.

Now the Rev. Timothy LaBouf has dismissed Mary Lambert as a Sunday School teacher for an adult class after she's been on the job for over 50 years, claiming that his interpretation of the Bible is that a woman is prohibited from teaching men.

Lambert has been a church member for 54 years and a long time Sunday School teacher but got a letter dated Aug. 9 from LaBouf and the board saying that the Bible says a woman can perform any job, as long as its outside of the church.

LaBouf, who has been pastor at the church for about two years, and is also a member of the Watertown City Council, quotes the first epistle to Timothy which hold "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent".

Lambert received the letter signed by Kendra LaBouf, wife of the pastor. "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission" the letter said. "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became sinner".

Lambert says problems began occurring within the church after LaBouf's arrival two years ago. She made the letter public, touching off a firestorm of public controversy.

On Friday the church board issued a statement which said that "In the specific case of Ms. Lambert, the board's decision to remove her from a teaching position was multifaceted and the scriptural rules concerning women teaching men in a church setting was only a small aspect of that decision. Christian courtesy motivates us to refrain from making any pubic accusations against her". 8-21-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette