(RNS) The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has denied the claims of a black former employee who filed suit, alleging she was fired after expressing concern that the ministry was not sufficiently reaching out to African-American churches.

The racial discrimination lawsuit by Kimberly McCallum was moved Wednesday (Sept. 2) from a local court to a federal court, the Associated Press reported.

In response, the association issued a statement confirming the suit and saying it works to be inclusive.

“We cannot discuss the specifics of the pending case, except to state that we disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit,” said the association, which is based in Charlotte, N.C. “The BGEA provides equal employment opportunities to people of all races. The organization continues to be inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender or nationality in all of the ministry’s activities worldwide.”

The suit was filed in June in a Mecklenburg County (N.C.) court, but was moved to a U.S. District Court in Charlotte.

According to the AP, the suit says McCallum complained that a list of 635 prospective congregations for a BGEA program included only three that were predominantly black. She said she was fired a week later due to downsizing. She seeks back pay, damages and job reinstatement.

“Subsequent to her discharge, plaintiff learned that the global offices had not been downsized and that the only job that was eliminated there was the one occupied by the plaintiff,” the suit reads.