A pastor was ‘forced out of his job’ at a secular primary school after he tweeted that gay pride events are ‘harmful’ to children, an employment tribunal has heard.
Keith Waters, 55, who is a minister at an Evangelical church, has accused school bosses of religious discrimination and constructive dismissal.
He claimed the tweet made in June 2019, which he later deleted, was an expression of a ‘Christian viewpoint’ on LGBTQ Pride events
Waters, a former caretaker at the school, tweeted: ‘A reminder that Christians should not support or attend LGBTQ ‘Pride Month’ events held in June.
‘They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. They are especially harmful to children.’
Waters’ comments were condemned online as homophobic and some parents wrote to the school to complain.
But Waters has defended the comments as being ‘born out of love’ as he appeared at an employment tribunal in Cambridge today.
He wore a grey suit and brought his own copy of The Bible as he opened legal action against his former employer the Active Learning Trust, which runs the non-faith Isle of Ely Primary School in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
In his witness statement, Waters explained that Pride events are ‘diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics’.
He wrote: ‘Beliefs, culture and ethics promoted by ‘Pride’ are thus diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics.
‘Not only does ‘Pride’ promote what we regard as sin; it also encourages people to take pride on that sin.’
Waters said that he specifically warned that Pride events were ‘especially harmful to children’ because he believes children should be taught Biblical teachings.
Waters stated that he felt he had ‘no option’ but to resign on June 24, 2019 – a day before he was due to face a disciplinary hearing.
He wrote: ‘I reasoned that the actions of my employer were damaging my wellbeing and that it had become apparent that the outcome of disciplinary hearing and any subsequent appeal would mean that the ALT would no longer accept my rights to freedom of expression, faith and speech.
‘I am a Christian minister and exercising these rights is something that I do every day of the year.’
Waters’ legal action is backed by Christian Legal Centre.
Source: Dailymail