Christian pastor claims he was ‘forced out’ of primary school job after ‘homophobic’ tweet
A Christian pastor claims he was “forced out” of his primary school job after tweeting that gay pride events were “harmful” to children, a tribunal has heard.
Keith Waters, 55, a minister at an Evangelical church, has accused school bosses of religious discrimination and constructive dismissal.
He claimed that the tweet he posted on June 1 2019, which he later deleted, was an expression of a “Christian viewpoint” on LGBTQ Pride events.
Mr 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.”
His comments were condemned online as homophobic and some parents wrote to the school to complain.
However, giving evidence at an employment tribunal in Cambridge on Monday, he defended the comments as being “born out of love”.
Mr Waters, 55, brought his own copy of the Bible as he opened legal action against his former employer, the Active Learning Trust (ALT), which runs the secular Isle of Ely Primary School in Ely, Cambs.
Religious discrimination claim
The tribunal heard that he resigned from his role three weeks after making the tweet and is claiming that he was forced out and subjected to religious discrimination.
In his witness statement, he said that Pride events were “diametrically opposed to Christian sexual ethics”.
He added: “Not only does ‘Pride’ promote what we regard as sin; it also encourages people to take pride on [sic] that sin.”
Mr Waters, whose legal action is being backed by the Christian Legal Centre, said that he specifically warned in his tweet that Pride events were “especially harmful to children” because he believed children should be given Biblical teachings.
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.”
Mr Waters admitted that he did not consider the implications of his tweet that led to online backlash and accusations of homophobia.
The tribunal also heard that Mr Waters claimed he was targeted online by people with an “agenda” after posting his tweet. Parents also wrote to the school to complain.
One letter was summarised by Stephen Peacock, representing the ALT. He said: “The parent is disgusted that someone with such disgusting hateful views should be employed in a setting with impressionable children.”
Tweet was ‘about nudity’
But Mr Waters, a minister at New Connexions Free Church in Ely, said that such views were skewed by a social media backlash.
He told the hearing: “This abuse was from people who had an agenda. It wasn’t necessarily the local community, though some of it was.
“The parents who complained may have seen what I wrote but I believe it was informed by a whole lot of stuff that was nothing to do with the tweet.
“It’s not about what I said, it’s about what happened around it. I didn’t talk about Pride month. I was talking about the events and things that are reported to happen at these events.”
He added: “I was addressing sexual activity and promiscuity in public. Whether it was heterosexual or homosexual made no difference. It was about nudity.
“Did I particularly think about the implications of this tweet? I didn’t. The reason for the tweet was born out of love. My Twitter account makes it clear that I’m aiming this at Christians.”
The ALT threatened disciplinary action against Mr Waters for allegedly bringing the school into disrepute through his tweet and the subsequent fallout.
He stated that he felt he had “no option” but to resign from the school on June 24 2019 – a day before disciplinary proceedings were due to begin.
The tribunal continues.
