Fired for His Faith: Timken’s Broken Promise and Blatant Retaliation

In blatant retaliation, a major defense contractor has just fired a Christian for expressing his faith, just days after promising him he could have a cross necklace and Bible at work. We’re taking urgent legal action to prevent large corporations from intimidating people of faith into silence.

The Timken Company, which has major contracts with the Department of Defense, fired our client, John, an HR manager at its Springfield, Missouri, plant – in blatant retaliation for standing up for his religious rights in the workplace.

For more than a year, John faithfully served at Timken. His so-called “fireable offense”? Quietly wearing a cross necklace and keeping his Bible on his desk as a source of strength and comfort. Neither ever interfered with his work, nor did they violate any company policy. Yet instead of respecting his rights, Timken supervisors berated him – calling his Bible “not inclusive,” his cross “unprofessional,” and even lecturing him that a “real Christian” should “wear it in [his] heart” instead of openly. One manager went so far as to claim that John’s visible faith made him part of a “clique.” The animosity displayed toward Christians by some corporations in 2025 is shocking.

On its website, Timken asserts, “[P]rofessional success starts with your personal wellbeing” and informs potential employees that they will be “part of a diverse, inclusive team,” insisting that they welcome each team member’s perspective. From the facts of this case, we must seriously question whether these statements are accurate.

This isn’t workplace neutrality. It’s hostility toward Christianity. And it’s unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

A False Promise and Swift Retaliation

After John was harassed by his superiors, the ACLJ sent Timken a demand letter on September 2, making it clear that John had the right to live out his faith without interference. Days later, on September 8, Timken’s employee relations manager – despite knowing the ACLJ’s involvement – refused to speak with our attorneys, met with John directly, and assured him he could keep his Bible and wear his cross openly.

But those assurances rang hollow. Just three days later – on September 11 – Timken fired John. The timing of this retaliation is undeniable. Courts have consistently held that firing an employee within days of asserting protected rights is strong evidence of unlawful retaliation. That’s exactly what happened here.

What’s more, John legally recorded multiple meetings where supervisors explicitly ordered him to hide his Bible and cross. This is direct, undeniable evidence of unlawful discrimination and retaliation.

We just sent a second demand letter to Timken, a major DOD contractor, in hopes that this retaliatory action will be taken seriously and Timken will do the right thing to make our client whole. If not, we will be filing a complaint in administrative court with the EEOC to vindicate John’s rights.

We must stand up for religious liberty, or we could lose everything we have secured over our 35-year history at the ACLJ. If Timken, a major defense contractor, can fire an employee for exercising his constitutionally protected rights, what’s to stop any other company from doing the same – to you, your children, or your neighbors?

Religious liberty doesn’t end when you clock in at work. The Bible on John’s desk could just as easily beyour Bible or your cross. The hostility John faced could just as easily come from your employer. Unless we fight back, this epidemic will spread.

The ACLJ is fighting for John – and for every American’s right to live out their faith without fear of losing their job. But we cannot do this alone.

Stand with us today. Sign our petition to defeat the war against Christians, support the ACLJ, and help us send a clear message: Religious discrimination and retaliation have no place in America.