EGN NEWS DESK
A Christian lecturer sacked by a Bible faculty over social media feedback about homosexuality has informed a tribunal that the general public expression of his beliefs are “academically defensible”.
Dr Aaron Edwards misplaced his job after seven years as a lecturer with Cliff College, a Methodist coaching faculty in Derbyshire, over feedback he posted on social media final yr.
His tweet learn, “Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals not see the severity of this as a result of they’re busy apologising for his or her apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not or not it is true.”
The feedback had been made in response to a debate within the Church of England about introducing same-sex blessings.
The tribunal, assembly in Sheffield this week, heard that complaints had been made by three feminine college students, two of whom had been lesbians. The college students claimed that Dr Edwards’ feedback made them really feel “unsafe”.
After refusing to retract his feedback, he was dismissed for allegedly bringing the school “into disrepute”.
Dr Edwards informed the tribunal that he had needed to “arise for fact when it’s being eroded in society”.
“Christians are referred to as to profess what they consider,” he mentioned, in response to The Telegraph.
He mentioned that he had been open about his beliefs in different writings, podcasts and sermons, and claimed that the school had been conscious of his views previous to the backlash over his tweet.
“My views on homosexuality haven’t been unknown, they’ve been mentioned brazenly,” he mentioned on the tribunal.
“In seven years of instructing at Cliff, I’ve by no means had a scholar who took considered one of my models increase issues about feeling unsafe within the classroom, and no scholar has ever left suggestions displaying issues in regards to the expression of my views on homosexuality.
“The faculty had greater than sufficient alternative to be conversant in my views and with my tutorial analysis for there to be much less obvious shock and public disappointment from them in responding as they did on Twitter with none prior session with me.”
The tribunal additionally heard that he had struggled to search out work after his dismissal.
“Equality, variety, and inclusivity quotas stay vital for all current universities and validated faculties,” he mentioned.
“It is already systemically troublesome for a heterosexual white male with conventional Christian beliefs on morality to get an instructional publish.”
He added, “I consider the general public expression of my beliefs is academically defensible, however many establishments will possible be unable to look previous the controversy of being dismissed in consequence.”
The listening to continues.
