Our friend is a single man who has dedicated his life to the Christian church as a Baptist minister. He has led a number of large churches successfully during his career but, sadly, he is the victim of discrimination, having been dismissed from his job and ministry by powerful individuals in his current church, the headquarters of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and the area division of the BUGB structure following a pre-emptory process managed by BUGB.

There is no justification for dismissal in law or morally, and this seems to have arisen from the fact of quietly being a celibate gay man in a church environment, which doesn’t deal well with persons who are suspected of being other than heterosexual. Trivial criticisms of our friend were cloaked in secrecy through misuse of a safeguarding policy, leaving church members imagining the worst. His reputation has been destroyed by scurrilous, totally unfounded rumours viciously circulated and re-circulated to somehow justify the action taken, having absolutely no basis in reality.

With the involvement of powerful church structures, we are remaining anonymous to protect our friend’s identity and allow the legal process to proceed with integrity.

We are a group of members of the congregation with knowledge of the fabrications kept from the wider church who have been appalled by this treatment and have been supporting our friend to date financially. He has legal representation, and his solicitor and counsel believe he has a very strong case of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Our twin aims in seeking support for legal fees for the next steps through CrowdJustice are:

1. to vindicate his good name, and
2. to ensure he can challenge his dismissal at the employment tribunal, in order to seek financial redress, but also, importantly, to deter future discrimination of others by this denomination towards a more inclusive approach.

The claim has been submitted and listed for preliminary and final hearings. Our initial target for legal fees is £5k with a stretch target of £50k to meet legal bills to either settlement or conclusion.

This time has been incredibly difficult for all involved. It has taken a profound toll on our friend, who has carried the weight of false accusations and character assassination in silence, with dignity and grace. It has shaken many of us to witness how a man of faith, integrity, and pastoral care could be so mistreated by the very institution he has served for decades.

We would be deeply grateful for any support you are able to give, whether financial or by sharing this campaign. Justice must prevail, not only for our friend’s sake, but to ensure that others never have to endure such treatment in silence. Your help can make a real difference. Thank you.