Charity worker suspended over opposition to homosexual marriage

A Christian man working as a hostel support worker has been suspended from his job after having a conversation with a colleague in which he voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage and homosexual clergy.

David Booker, 44, who has worked for the English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) in Southampton for almost four years. The ECHG was recently taken over by the non-religious Society of St James but the Archbishop of Canterbury remains its patron.

During one night shift, he had a conversation with colleague Fiona Vardy in which she asked him about his faith and the Church's teaching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage, according to the Christian Legal Centre.

Within 24 hours of the conversation, Mr Booker was suspended on full pay and told an investigation was being made into claims of “gross misconduct”.

"The conversation moved on to my views on homosexuality. I am not a bigot. I am not homophobic. I have gay friends,” he told The Telegraph.

"But I did say that I didn't agree with same-sex marriages, I didn't believe pastors or vicars should marry same-sex partners and I didn't agree with practising homosexuals being a pastor or a vicar.

"At one point, as we were talking, I asked her if I was offending her or boring her and she replied: 'No, Dave, carry on.' After our discussion, she was friendly towards me. She made me cups of tea. There was no problem at all."

The charity claims he broke the ECHG's code of conduct by "promoting your religious views which contained discriminatory comments regarding a person's sexual orientation" and says it took the decision to suspend Mr Booker "to safeguard both residents and staff at Southampton Street".

Mr Booker said he was "shocked and angry" by his suspension.

"You always feel a colleague will support you and is on your side. I feel as if I have been stabbed in the back. I just wish my colleague had come to me [with her concerns]. Can I not have a private conversation with a colleague about my personal beliefs without getting suspended?"

The Society of St James has said it cannot comment on the case as an investigation is still ongoing.

Mr Booker became a born-again Christian in 2000 after separating from his wife and having financial and drink problems. Since then he has remarried and has a stepson.

The Christian Legal Centre is supporting Mr Booker in his case and is considering legal action against the Society of St James for disproportionate punishment or harassment.

CLC director, Andrea Minichiello Williams, said: "This case shows that in today’s politically correct, increasingly secularised society, even consenting reasonable discussion on religion between two employees is being twisted by employers to discriminate and silence the Christian voice and freedom of expression.

“To date, the English Churches Housing Group is funded largely by churches throughout Hampshire, who we are sure will be shocked at the attitude and action taken by a Christian organisation towards a Christian employee.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury, as patron, has confirmed the Church’s teaching on marriage, same-sex relationships and homosexuality and that is in the public domain. We are interested to know whether his patronage is now under threat under the charity’s Culture and Diversity Code of Conduct."