We didn’t do anything wrong, but here’s $300,000 anyway.

That seems to be the message from Mars Hill Graduate School. The Seattle-based Christian institution recently agreed to pay that not-insignificant sum to a former female faculty member and Mars Hill co-founder who alleged harassment and discrimination in a lawsuit, according to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

In 2005 the faculty member, Heather Parkinson-Webb, filed for divorce from Kirk Webb, who was also a founder of the school. Subsequently, her contract was not renewed. Mr. Webb has also since left Mars Hill.

In a statement, Mars Hill admitted no wrongdoing but said a settlement was necessary because a trial would have been a “distraction.” —Thomas Bartlett