A chaplain is suing over alleged religious discrimination after being sacked for making a sermon outlining the Church’s view of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
The Rev Dr Bernard Randall is suing both the Bishop of Derby and Trent College after he was sacked by the school in 2019.
Dr Randall is claiming £120,000 in damages at an employment tribunal which is due to get underway from Monday.
Among the damages Dr Randall is seeking include for hurt feelings and loss of earnings, while he will also ask to be reinstated back to his post at the school.
Trent College
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He said: “If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny that the Church is being alleged to have discriminated against one of its officers on the basis that that officer holds its teachings.
“It shouldn’t be possible but here it is and that’s why it’s for the long-term good of the Church to deal with these things,” he told The Telegraph.
Dr Randall was appointed at the school in 2015, but was sacked in August 2019 following a sermon which he outlined the Church’s view of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
The sermon came after some students questioned the school’s new policy on sexual orientation diversity.
In a statement, the Diocese of Derby said: “Mr Randall has never been an employee of the diocese and the licence he held was as a result of his employment by Trent College.
“The Bishop of Derby is saddened that Mr Randall is bringing these grievances and has tried to ensure pastoral care for him.
“Given that he has started legal processes against the Diocese and the Bishop of Derby, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
While Andrea Williams, co-founder of Christian Concern and chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, added: “The Church of England’s wholesale misuse of safeguarding to suggest that Bernard is a risk to children is one of them most distasteful and objectionable elements of this extraordinary case.”