Expressing Christian beliefs is a legitimate grounds for dismissal: this is clearly an issue of deep concern for Christians in the workplace across the UK.

Christian nursery nurse sacked for saying marriage is between a man and a woman

A Christian nursery nurse has been sacked for gross misconduct from her job in a London children’s nursery after explaining the Bible's teaching on homosexuality in response to a question from her colleague.
Sarah Mbuyi had worked at Newpark Childcare in Highbury, London, since April 2013. She became good friends with a gay colleague and they had frequent conversations about the meaning of Christianity.

The incident

In January 2014, the colleague initiated another conversation with Sarah about Christianity. She said she was unhappy that she couldn't marry her female partner because of the church, and said she thought that God condoned homosexuality.

Miss Mbuyi explained: “When I said no God does not condone the practice of homosexuality, but does love you and says you should come to him as you are, she became emotional and went off to report me to my manager.

"I never ever condemned her, or accused her, but when she asked me directly what I believed, I was open about sharing the Bible’s teaching that homosexual sex (not the people) is wrong. It's clear that this offended her and she was determined to get me sacked, simply because I expressed traditional Christian beliefs."

The dismissal

After a one-sided disciplinary hearing in which Sarah was falsely accused of starting the discussion on homosexuality, nursery directors dismissed her immediately for gross misconduct.

The implications

Sarah’s dismissal suggests her employers think that expressing Christian beliefs is a legitimate grounds for dismissal. This is clearly an issue of deep concern for Christians in the workplace across the UK.

Andrea Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, said:

“Sharing Biblical truths out of genuine love and concern for colleagues is being outlawed in the workplace by a dominating cultural correctness. There is a culture of fear which closes down freedom of speech and the manifestation of faith. This culture brands the liberating good news of the Gospel as oppressive and regressive.

“Sarah’s case demonstrates the confusion we’re experiencing in current times. David Cameron has given public recognition of the enormous positive impact that Jesus Christ has had on our nation but he wants to mould Christianity to his political agenda. History shows that Christianity is greater than any political agenda.

“David Cameron has ignored the concerns of the Christian community by driving through same-sex ‘marriage’. Any dissent in the public space, in the workplace, to the new prevailing orthodoxy means punishment as Sarah is experiencing.

“This is not a Government with a track record of recognising and respecting Christian faith. It has deliberately and consistently undermined Christians and their freedom to live out their faith in the public square.

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