Can Christian Men Refuse to Work With Women? New Lawsuit Argues Yes

Is "refusing to work alone with women" a protected religious right?

A heating and air conditioning technician in upstate New York is alleging just that, after he was let go by his employer after repeated complaints about working alone with a female colleague.

The technician, Paul Ostapa, observes the “Billy Graham Rule” – a belief which prevents him from being alone in a room with any woman other than his wife. Ostapa argues this is federally protected under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Now, he’s suing his employer over the matter. Should the case proceed to trial, it’s believed to be the first time in which the courts will rule on the controversial practice.

What is the Billy Graham Rule?

The Billy Graham Rule is a code of conduct followed by famed evangelist Billy Graham, which has since been adopted by many male evangelical leaders.

The self-imposed rule prevents adherents from being alone in a room with women who aren’t their wife. It was originally adopted by Graham early in his career as a safeguard against temptation and scandal – both real and perceived.

Perhaps the most well known adherent of the Billy Graham Rule – outside its namesake, of course – is former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence, an Evangelical Christian, made headlines in 2017 after revealing he never dines alone with women other than his wife, Karen, and avoids attending events where alcohol is served without her present.

He said the practice is meant to prevent even the appearance of impropriety. Critics, however, argued that Pence’s approach could unfairly limit professional opportunities for women in politics and business, effectively excluding them from key conversations and networking settings.

Supporters countered that it simply reflects a man’s right to live by his convictions. That cultural debate, between personal morality and professional equality, sits squarely at the heart of this new  case.

The Lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, in 2022, Ostapa was working on a routine HVAC job in with two colleagues – one male, one female. When the male colleague had to leave, Ostapa suddenly found himself alone with the female colleague, causing him “great inner conflict and emotional turmoil.” 

In his 16 years in HVAC, it was the first time Ostapa’s adherence to the “Billy Graham Rule” had truly been put to the test.

Ostapa says his belief in the rule is deeply rooted in his Christian faith as a Southern Baptist. Although the Southern Baptist Convention does not require members to observe it, he feels a "strong conviction" it is the right thing to do. Ostapa says his belief is based on the biblical story of Potiphar’s wife, who falsely accused Joseph of rape after he rejected her sexual advances in the Book of Genesis.

Per the lawsuit, Ostapa says he contacted dispatch to complain about being left alone with the female coworker, alleging that his supervisor had previously informally agreed to accommodate his beliefs. 

When he was asked to work alone with the woman a few months later, Ostapa again complained – and was fired for “insubordination” thereafter.

What Accommodations are Reasonable?

According to Ostapa’s complaint, his employer didn’t make an attempt to accommodate his religious beliefs.

The Civil Rights Act requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for religious requests unless they create an undue hardship for the employer.

Ostapa's lawyers say that his workplace had some 25-30 technicians on staff, and that scheduling another man to work the female technician wouldn’t have caused anyone any undue hardship.

But is refusing to work alone with women a serious religious principle that requires accommodation? 

The Bigger Question

Should the case proceed, the courts will decide. And the implications extend far beyond one HVAC shop. If Ostapa prevails, employers across the country could face new questions about how far they must go to accommodate individual expressions of faith, even when they clash with workplace norms or gender equality standards.

What do you think? Should religious employees have the right to refuse being alone with colleagues of the opposite sex? Or does that cross a line into workplace discrimination? Share your thoughts — where should the balance between faith and fairness lie?