Re-trial for chaplain sacked over sermon on diversity and equality

The case of a chaplain who lost his job over comments he made about LGBT ideology in a college sermon is to return to court for a re-trial. 

Judge James Tayler overturned the previous employment tribunal ruling against Rev Dr Bernard Randall, declaring it “unsafe” attributable to anti-Christian bias by a panel member.

The case will now be retried, although a date is yet to be set for the hearing. 

It is six years since Dr Randall was dismissed from Trent College, a college with a Church of England ethos, after delivering a sermon within the chapel wherein he suggested that students were allowed to disagree with LGBT ideology. 

He preached the sermon in response to an invite from the varsity to Educate and Celebrate (E&C), a now defunct LGBT charity whose goals included to “smash heteronormativity”. 

In September 2022, an employment tribunal ruled against Dr Randall, nevertheless it was later found that lay presiding panel member, Jed Purkis, had made anti-Christian comments online. 

In addition to a re-trial, Judge Tayler has now ordered £20,000 costs against Trent College. 

Lawyers for Dr Randall plan to present controversies surrounding Educate and Celebrate to the fresh trial as ‘latest evidence’.

Responding to the choice, Dr Randall said he was “relieved” by the re-trial but admitted that “the continuing long wait for justice is painful and holding back my life”. 

“I might not be where I’m now if E&C had not been invited into Trent College, it is so simple as that,” he said.

“As an ordained CofE minister working as a chaplain in a college with a CofE ethos, it was my duty to encourage debate and help children who were confused by the LGBT+ teaching to know that there are alternative views and beliefs on these contentious issues.”

He added, “The injustice of how I actually have been treated because I opposed the introduction of this agenda in a college should by now be obvious to all.”

Andrea Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Dr Randall in his case, said, “We welcome the choice to overturn the unique ruling and the popularity of great concerns regarding anti-Christian bias. This case has significant implications for freedom of speech and non secular belief in schools.“If Bernard just isn’t vindicated, it sends a troubling message that teachers, chaplains, and oldsters who uphold Christian teaching or query radical ideological agendas will come under intense scrutiny and should face losing their jobs.

“This is why we remain committed to seeing justice done and can proceed to support Bernard until that’s achieved.”