Nick Howard, the son of former Conservative Party leader, Michael Howard, has spoken out about his rejection from being ordained by the Church of England.
Howard, who completed his theology degree just this summer, was refused ordination for what was described as his "unwillingness to listen" to others' viewpoints.Speaking to a UK Sunday newspaper, Howard told that he strongly held evangelical beliefs on issues such as homosexuality and multifaith worship, and these convictions led to him being branded as a "troublemaker", he suggested.
During his theological studies at Cranmer Hall, Durham, he commented that he refused to be swayed to viewpoints that went against his beliefs, and in protest he refused to take Communion at the college's weekly evening service, preferring to remain in his pew.
He reported, "An ethics tutor at the college was saying publicly that you can be in a gay sexual relationship and follow Christ. That is incompatible with the teaching of the New Testament."
Howard was encouraged to offer equal spiritual value to Muslim, Sikh and Hindu religions as part of "multifaith ministry". In relation to this he stated: "As a Christian, I believe that Jesus died for Sikhs and Muslims, too, so I long to share the good news with them so that they can be saved. It felt a bit awkward sitting there when everyone else was going up [for Communion] but I couldn't physically have done anything else because I can't pretend someone shares the same religion as me if, in reality, they don't."
His tutors said that his "unwillingness to listen" would make him unsuitable as a vicar. The decision has dismayed Howard, and others have felt that his commitment to core foundations of the Christian faith should be welcomed by the Church.
He now works for the Association of Evangelists, travelling around the country giving talks in churches, schools and universities.
He said, "In many ways, my current job is everything I've ever wanted to do - to explain the faith to people who don't know it or understand it.
"But I'd love to do it in the name of the Church of England. The Church needs reforming but I'd like to be involved from the inside rather than pointing fingers from the outside.
