Christian chaplain’s appeal delayed

An Employment Tribunal judge has delayed a faculty chaplain’s appeal until the Court of Appeal hears the case of one other Christian school employee.

Rev Dr Bernard Randall was sacked by Trent College over a sermon he gave in 2019 by which he told pupils they didn’t must agree with LGBT ideology.

He was later reinstated on appeal before being furloughed through the pandemic after which made redundant. He was also referred by the varsity to the federal government’s terrorism-prevention scheme, Prevent.

Dr Randall lost his unfair dismissal case last 12 months but has been cleared by Prevent, the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA), and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The tribunal was presupposed to hear his appeal this week but has now decided to attend until after the October hearing on the Court of Appeal within the case of Kristie Higgs. 

Mrs Higgs was sacked as an assistant at her school after she made two posts to her personal Facebook account raising concerns about compulsory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons, and the spread of transgender ideology in schools. 

In January she won the fitting to have her case heard by senior judges and a hearing is scheduled to happen on 2 October. 

Dr Randall said he was “hugely frustrated” by further appeals to his case. 

“Just waiting to get my life back can feel like a type of torture in itself. But I also recognise the large significance of Kristie’s case and my very own and what’s at stake, and I do know that in all things God works for the great of those that love him,” he said.

“My case concerns everybody. The gender identity and queer theory agenda sowing deep seeds of confusion in young children is now embedded in our schools. That agenda is anti-Christian and unashamedly goals to stamp out any Christian influence in our schools, and indeed any opposition, dissenting voice and even debate on their dangerous ideology.” 

He appealed to the Church of England for more support in his case. 

“All the secular safeguarding authorities have cleared me entirely, however the CofE’s safeguarding case against me continues for preaching about CofE teaching in a CofE school. The CofE hierarchy has been silent on my case and has refused to assist me. It remains to be not too late for Justin Welby to step in – he has my number,” he said. 

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting each Dr Randall and Mrs Higgs said: “Justice delayed is justice denied. It is now five-years since Bernard gave a sermon.

“Four years after this all began, despite the pressure and mischaracterisation of his position, Bernard isn’t for turning until justice is finished.

“If this ruling isn’t overturned and Bernard doesn’t receive justice, then any parent, child, teacher or chaplain who opposes the agenda of ‘smashing heteronormativity’ in our schools, isn’t secure from losing their jobs, or worse. We must win it and won’t hand over until we have now.”