Christian chaplain was dismissed from fee-paying boarding school after he refused to chant 'smash heteronormativity' when invited to by LGBT+ charity, tribunal hears

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A Christian chaplain was dismissed after refusing to chant 'smash heteronormativity' at inclusion training at a fee-paying boarding school, an employment tribunal was told.

Reverend Dr Bernard Randall, 49, from Long Eaton, Derbyshire, did not join in the 'chant' when urged to do so by the leader of Educate and Celebrate Dr Elly Barnes during an inset session at the independent Trent College, Long Eaton.

The evidence was heard during a tribunal, which came about after Rev Randall brought claims of harassment, discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal on the grounds of his Christian beliefs against his former employer.

He is also seeking compensation over allegations of unfair dismissal and a recommendation under the Equality Act 2010.

Rev Randall was dismissed by Trent College last year after the school flagged him to the government's Prevent programme for giving a sermon that was 'harmful to LGBT' students.

Police investigated the tip-off but advised the school by email that Dr Randall posed 'no counter terrorism risk, or risk of radicalisation'. 

In the sermon he had told the children they were not compelled to 'accept an ideology they disagree with', adding that it is, 'perfectly legitimate to think that marriage should only properly be understood as being a lifelong exclusive union of a man and a woman'.

The Reverend Dr Bernard Randall, 49, (pictured outside the employment tribunal yesterday) was asked about Educate and Celebrate, which worked with Trent College to provide LGBT inclusivity training. He said he found the charity's reference to 'smashing heteronormativity' alarming and he believed much of their programme was 'contrary to Christian teaching'

Yesterday Rev Randall was asked questions about Educate and Celebrate, which began working with the school in 2019 to provide LGBTQI+ inclusion training.

Rev Randall said he became aware from the published timetable that the staff inset for the coming September was to include a session by Educate and Celebrate. To understand what this would involve he visited the charity's website.

In his written statement, which was sworn in at the employment tribunal in Nottingham, he said it was clear that the charity's stated objective was to promote LGBT+ inclusion in schools. However, he said E&C went beyond 'a natural stance of inclusivity into active promotion of ideas which he believed amounted to identity politics'.

He also stated that there was a reference to E&C's intention of 'smashing heteronormativity', which he said he found particularly alarming. And he said the prospect of the charity being involved in the school was highly troubling, adding: 'I had a contractual duty to be loyal to the stated aims and objectives of the school.'

He said he feared that raising the Christian view on these topics might be met with some opposition but said he had an obvious duty to do so.

His statement, a document presented before the tribunal, also claimed much of E&C's programme appeared to him to be 'contrary to Christian teaching'.

Rev Randall was dismissed by Trent College (pictured) last year after the school flagged him to the government's Prevent programme for giving a sermon that was 'harmful to LGBT' students

It said: 'Identity politics tends to promote division as people are divided into small groups based on their particular characteristics. Christianity promotes inclusion based on all people's universally shared humanity as all are made in the image of God.

'Identity politics tends to promote the idea that certain groups are oppressed by others, which creates a presumption of conflict rather than harmony; for example the desire to 'smash heteronormativity'.

'Identity politics has profound Marxist roots (seen in focus on oppressed classes, and the revolutionary overthrow of existing structures); it is, therefore, an atheist foundation.

'Some aspects of E&C's programme appeared to be deliberately misleading and factually wrong. For example, the list of protected characteristics having gender and gender identity, instead of sex and gender reassignment.'

Rev Randall was ordained in the Church of England in 2006. Before becoming the full-time chaplain at Trent College in September 2015, he was chaplain at Christ College, Cambridge.

His statement added: 'My church tradition could best be described as Liberal Catholic, or, more precisely, Tractarian High Church. I am committed to the Christian faith as expressed, embodied in the Church of England, but maintain a classically liberal approach to all questions on any topic. I am, therefore, committed to freedom of conscience for all people.'

Last week Rev Randall revealed that his diocese, run by the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Libby Lane, had refused to support him.

Last week Rev Randall revealed that his diocese, run by the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Libby Lane, (pictured) had refused to support him

He said the diocese launched its own investigation, conducting a risk assessment which concluded that he posed a 'moderate' risk, and might cause children 'anxiety' if they came to him with 'a sexuality or relationship' issue.

Dr Randall said that the assessment left him devastated: 'When you get ordained you put heart and soul into the Church. It's woven into your DNA and then someone reaches inside you, into your soul, and rips out your DNA.

'While this has never made me think I'm not going to be a Christian, it has made me question the state of the Church and seriously doubt my place in it. Due to loyalty, I haven't spoken out until now about the Church's role. I held back because I thought the diocese might see sense, but it hasn't.' 

The tribunal, listed for three weeks, continues.