Pastor Keith Waters’ troubles began after he posted a tweet on June 1, 2019, that said: “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 is a caretaker at the Isle of Ely Primary School and pastor New Connexions Free Church.
After the tweet, he was admonished by colleagues who said his words were “highly inappropriate and offensive” and accused of having broken the code of conduct. He was subsequently slapped with a written warning and stripped of his regular duties.
This week his appeal of the firing was heard at an employment tribunal.
Waters’ lawyers argued that he was wrongly punished for exercising his right to freedom of religion and expression of thought.
Lawyers also told the employment tribunal that precedent was set in the landmark high court ruling in the case of Felix Ngole that found “historic Christian views on sexual ethics should not be confused with homophobia or discrimination against homosexuals.”
“I’m not doing this because I want to sue the school, but because I believe it’s the right thing to do,” Waters added in his statement ahead of the hearing. “I want to ensure that other pastors in the future that have to work part time in a secular organization will be free to preach the truth and not lose their job.”