In Depth:  justice

All topics
Four ways our legal system is rooted in Christianity

Four ways our legal system is rooted in Christianity

David Shepherd
David Shepherd

I’m not a lawyer but as a Christian I am fascinated by the relationship between the principles enshrined in our legal system and ancient principles of justice and equality that can be traced back to Scripture.

There are four key principles that derive from our Judaeo-Christian tradition, namely: separation of powers, objective justice, eye-witness corroboration, and due process.

‘Hate incidents’ wasting time

‘Hate incidents’ wasting time

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Police forces are attending and recording too many non-crime hate incidents according to a policing watchdog, but the Home Secretary has said they must report more.

The Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke has released a report following a review into activism and impartiality in policing, commissioned by previous Home Secretary, Suella Braverman. The review considered (among other issues) the records of 120 non-crime hate incidents (NCHI). The report blamed a ‘risk-averse’ culture within police forces. However, the new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she will reverse previous guidance aimed at limiting the recording of NCHI by police.

More than 62,000 engaged with by CI

More than 62,000 engaged with by CI

Luke Randall
Luke Randall

The Christian Institute (CI) has released its Annual Report, which revealed that in 2023 it engaged with over 62,000 supporters, including more than 5,000 churches.

The legal organisation, which seeks to defend the rights of Christians, also recorded more than 5.4 million website visits, 106 print and broadcast media requests, and led more than 450 presentations which were attended by over 21,000 people during that year.

37,000 sign petition to see CofE vicar reinstated

37,000 sign petition to see CofE vicar reinstated

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

A petition calling for the reinstatement of Dr Bernard Randall to ministry in the Church of England has reached more than 37,610 signatures.

The Church of England vicar is awaiting a decision whether he can appeal a ruling rejecting his unfair dismissal and discriminations claims against a CofE school. He lost his job after giving a sermon on accepted CoE teachings on human sexuality. He is also taking legal action against the Diocese of Derby.

Insist on the straight line
everyday evangelism

Insist on the straight line

Glen Scrivener
Glen Scrivener

Larry Nassar came to court carrying a Bible. He was charged with sexually abusing 265 girls over two decades while being team doctor for USA Gymnastics. Throughout the trials he made a point of presenting himself as a Christian.

Across the courtroom in January 2018 was a woman he had abused when she was a child – Rachael Denhollander. She was the first victim to go public about Nassar’s abuse and the last of over 200 to give her victim impact statement.

Christian theology lecturer appeals ruling

Christian theology lecturer appeals ruling

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Theology lecturer Dr Aaron Edwards, who was dismissed from Cliff College, Derbyshire after tweeting his Christian views on sexuality, is to appeal a ruling refusing his unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination claims.

An employment tribunal found the college had been ‘reasonable’ and ‘justified’ in its actions and that Edwards’ rights to freedom of religion had not been engaged. Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Edwards, said the judge ‘has simply not engaged with the substance of this case. Aaron was sacked because he challenged the church to uphold God’s teaching on human sexuality.’

Woman arrested after praying inside abortion buffer zone

Woman arrested after praying inside abortion buffer zone

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Claire Brennan, a Roman Catholic, is being prosecuted after she had been holding a sign reading Pray to End Abortion, praying the Lord’s Prayer inside a ‘buffer zone’ outside Causeway hospital, Coleraine, NI.

A police officer accused her, and a wheelchair-bound colleague, of causing ‘harassment, alarm and distress’. She was arrested and her lawyers subsequent attempts to defend her on human-rights grounds was refused. Brennan is now due to appear before magistrates in October.

The UK riots: the need for absolute moral clarity

The UK riots: the need for absolute moral clarity

Ryan Burton King
Ryan Burton King

On 29 July 2024, a knife rampage at a holiday dance class left three little girls dead and an additional 10 people, including several children, fighting for their lives.

It is always paramount, no less in moments of extreme grief and inconsolable anguish, that we labour to appropriately respond rather than aggressively react. If we lose sobriety of mind and self-control in body, then we may lose all respectability in our actions. The alleged perpetrator was captured and arrested, alive, and has now been charged. The community should have been allowed to grieve in peace, and the justice system permitted to follow usual due process.

Women's Olympic boxing: 'It's not fair!' Or is it?

Women's Olympic boxing: 'It's not fair!' Or is it?

Rebecca Chapman
Rebecca Chapman

This long, hot, sporty summer rolls on. Schools have been broken up for weeks, and children are everywhere - including all over my home! My three sons scrap over just about everything in the summer heat. Cries of ‘It’s not fair!’ seem to constantly ring out from one or the other; but how do I discern whose rights matter more when push comes to (literal) shove between the children?

Over in Paris, the Olympic women’s boxing has also been dominated by cries of ‘It’s not fair!’ Just 46 seconds into her bout against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, Italian Angela Carini was punched so hard in the face that she fell to the floor weeping, ended the fight, saying to those in her corner 'Non è giusto' ('It’s not fair'). Later, she said she had feared for her life.

Wealth and injustice
the ENd word

Wealth and injustice

Lizzy Smallwood
Lizzy Smallwood

Click and Collect; Swipe to Buy Now; Same-day Delivery; BOGOF; 40% OFF sale; Investment Opportunities; Cryptocurrency Know How…

We are daily bombarded by the command to spend our money on ourselves or invest it for our future. I am an absolute mug when it comes to online impulse buys late at night. It’s a relief to my husband that I have no clue or interest in how Bitcoin works.

Bernard Randall: 'The culture war is far from over'

Bernard Randall: 'The culture war is far from over'

Iain Taylor
Iain Taylor

Dr Bernard Randall, the Christian teacher who was sacked and reported to terrorist watchdog Prevent by his school for preaching a moderate sermon on identity politics, has responded to the Charity Commission’s decision to permit the dissolution of Educate and Celebrate (E & C).

E & C was the scandal-hit charity whose extreme gender identity teaching at Trent College, Nottingham led to Dr Randall's dismissal. He has not given a sermon or been able to work in Christian ministry since, a situation he continues to challenge.

Bank account closure: 'The impact was enormous'

Bank account closure: 'The impact was enormous'

Iain Taylor
Iain Taylor

Following last month’s article, ‘Is your church at risk of having its bank account shut down?’, Evangelicals Now was contacted by the Naval and Military Bible Society (NMBS) who shared their recent struggle of having their bank account unexpectedly closed by Barclays.

The NMBS is the oldest Bible society in the world, having provided Bibles to Service and Merchant Navy personnel since 1779. Recently, the Barclay's 'Know your Customer' (KYC) team had asked why their turnover had increased sharply and they were told, by telephone, that it was because of significant extra demand for Bibles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Despite reassurances that 'a note would be placed on the account', Barclays swiftly moved to close both accounts.  

Covid: government exceeded mandate – evangelicals

Covid: government exceeded mandate – evangelicals

Affinity

The government did overreach itself during the pandemic, delegates at an Affinity event have broadly concluded.

With the backdrop of the government’s Covid Inquiry, the organisation, which represents 1,200 evangelical churches and groups, recently held a symposium bringing various partners together to reflect on how Christians and churches responded to the pandemic.

Teachers 'won't be forced' to use child's chosen pronoun

Teachers 'won't be forced' to use child's chosen pronoun

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Transgender guidance for schools, published this December, does not require teachers or pupils to address a child, who wants to change gender, by their preferred pronoun.

As the guidance was being drafted, The Times said children would be able to socially transition with parental consent, but only in limited circumstances; and teachers would not be forced to use a child’s chosen pronoun if they have a ‘good faith’ exception.

National Trust ‘inclusion’ calendar  excludes main Christian festivals

National Trust ‘inclusion’ calendar excludes main Christian festivals

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

The National Trust has been widely criticised for producing a calendar that features religious festivals such as Diwali, Ramadan and Eid – but not Easter and Christmas.

A statement from the NT said: ‘We have an Inclusion and Wellbeing Calendar that is an internal resource, used to keep staff and volunteers up to date about awareness months and minority religious and cultural celebrations they might not otherwise be familiar with.

en investigates: Is your church bank account at risk of closure?

en investigates: Is your church bank account at risk of closure?

Iain Taylor
Iain Taylor

Last summer the national media shone the spotlight on when and how banks may close customers’ accounts.

Evangelicals Now has been contacted by two evangelical churches in Essex, South Park Chapel, Ilford, and Becontree Church, in Barking and Dagenham, London, whose banking facilities were withdrawn recently by Barclays.

1,000 church leaders consider: ‘What is justice?’

1,000 church leaders consider: ‘What is justice?’

Joel Murray

Nearly 1,000 church leaders from more than 500 churches across Britain have met at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool for FIEC’s annual Leaders’ Conference.

The theme for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches’ 2023 conference was the justice of God: what it means to follow and love the God of justice as He ultimately brings all things under Christ, the just and righteous ruler.

Christian councillor returns

Christian councillor returns

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

A Tory councillor, who was suspended in July after tweeting ‘Pride is not a virtue but a sin’, has been reinstated after an investigation into alleged misconduct by the local council standards committee.

King Lawal (see photo), a North Northamptonshire councillor – who is still reportedly under investigation by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) – was also ‘cancelled’ by several other organisations after expressing his Biblical beliefs on social media.

‘Cakegate’, C-list celebs and cheeky Christians

‘Cakegate’, C-list celebs and cheeky Christians

Stephen Kneale
Stephen Kneale

Just over a week ago (at the time of writing), my friend uploaded a screen grab of her less than impressed response to a request from what those of us in Oldham would refer to as a ‘cheeky beggar’.

What followed was over a week-long saga in which my friend’s response, dripping with sarcasm as it was, found its way into the national news. Every day, I saw a new outlet had picked up the story. It hit all the major national newspapers and media groups, making it a matter of true import when it finally hit the big stage in the Oldham Times. The saga – which as I write is still ongoing – was even dubbed #cakegate and, if I’m being honest, I am partly only mentioning it in these pages so Evangelicals Now doesn’t miss out on the bandwagon.

Compensation for handcuffed preacher

Compensation for handcuffed preacher

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

A street preacher has been awarded £5,500 in compensation from Police Scotland after he was unlawfully arrested for an alleged ‘hate’ incident in January 2022.

Angus Cameron was arrested in Buchanan Street, Glasgow for an alleged breach of the peace ‘with homophobic aggravation’, handcuffed and held in a police van for over an hour. He commented: ‘I still don’t know what I was supposed to have said.’

Christian discrimination probe launched

Christian discrimination probe launched

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Christians in the UK have been urged to give their views and experiences on how free they feel to express and practice their faith today.

An online questionnaire has been published by Voice for Justice UK (VfJUK) to examine freedom of expression and practice of Christian beliefs in the UK, ahead of an Inquiry it will launch this month (September).

Christian parent reinstated as governor after sacking

Christian parent reinstated as governor after sacking

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

A Christian parent has been reinstated as an elected school governor by the High Court, after being sacked and ostracized for complaining about the primary school’s RSE lesson plans and policy. Under the lesson plans, children would be encouraged to discuss issues around gender ideology.

Both the governing body - and local authority appeal panel which upheld its decision - accepted that the removal of the parent as governor in 2021 was unlawful. The effect of the court order is that the governor’s reinstatement is retrospective from the date of her removal. Her name has been withheld for legal reasons.

Landmark  win for medic

Landmark win for medic

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Dr David Mackereth, 60, had been a practising doctor for 26 years, until he lost his job with the DWP. He told the DWP in a training session that in good conscience as a Bible-believing Christian he could not identify clients by their chosen ‘gender identity’ instead of their biological sex. In response, the DWP declared this would amount to ‘harassment’ under the Equality Act 2010 and dismissed Dr Mackereth from his role as a Health and Disability Assessor.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Dr Mackereth launched a legal claim for discrimination on the grounds of his Christian and philosophical beliefs.

Christian theology lecturer dismissed for tweet

Christian theology lecturer dismissed for tweet

en staff

This March, Dr Aaron Edwards (37) was fired from his position as a theology lecturer at Cliff College, Derbyshire, following his controversial tweet concerning homosexuality.

The tweet, shared from his personal account, went viral. It read:

Preacher is  vindicated

Preacher is vindicated

Nicola Laver
Nicola Laver

Dave McConnell, a street preacher arrested in June 2021 after ‘misgendering’ a biological male, has had his conviction quashed. McConnell was reported to Prevent as a potential terrorist after being sentenced for a public order offence.

There is no legal requirement in the UK to use a person’s ‘preferred pronouns’, but McConnell – who has been street preaching for 15 years – was convicted for ‘insulting’ words and ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service and pay £620.

Teacher faces losing career

Teacher faces losing career

en staff

A Christian teacher facing allegations ranging from ‘misgendering’ a pupil and calling Muhammad a ‘false prophet’ could lose his career.

In January, 32-year-old Joshua Sutcliffe, appeared before a teachers’ disciplinary panel  and denied the charges. Sutcliffe, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, was dismissed in 2017 from Cherwell school after refusing to use a pupil’s preferred pronoun in breach of its equality policy – despite having an exemplary teaching record.

Reconciliation and justice in action

Reconciliation and justice in action

musalaha.org

Reconciliation is at the core of the gospel; God reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. Thus, as followers of Christ, we ought to bear this message of reconciliation and apply it in our lives. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Paul expands on this responsibility and asserts that we ought to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the world through His justice.

This was and still is the calling that inspired me 30 years ago to establish ‘Musalaha’ (reconciliation in Arabic). Over the years, I have learned a great deal about reconciliation and was thrilled with the opportunity to expand Musalaha’s reconciliation teachings through the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance. Despite the many conflicts in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, the few churches and organisations to partner with, I have been researching and exploring the main actors of peace and reconciliation with the desire of familiarising ourselves with our reconciliation MENA network.

Street Preacher  wins damages

Street Preacher wins damages

The Christian Institute

West Yorkshire Police has agreed to pay Huddersfield street preacher David McConnell (see photo) £3,250 in damages for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of human rights.

McConnell was preaching in 2019 when he faced hostile questions about abortion and sexuality, issues he had not been preaching about. Complaints were made and he was arrested without being informed as to what offence he was suspected of committing. In a case backed by the Christian Institute, the police force admitted liability.

‘Pregnant thief’ scandal raises vital issues of fairness

‘Pregnant thief’ scandal raises vital issues of fairness

Karen Soole
Karen Soole

Instead of hosting a party to celebrate her son’s tenth birthday Seema Misra was sent to prison. She was eight weeks pregnant.

What was her crime? She had run the village post office in West Byfleet, but had unaccountable shortfalls in her accounts. She put in £20,000 from her family savings to resolve the issue, but the problems continued and, eventually, she was convicted of stealing £74,000. The local newspaper described her as the ‘pregnant thief’. Her life was in tatters.

Responding to injustice

Duncan Forbes

In the last year, many people have been contacting me, asking advice about how to respond to injustice.

Some have asked about racism, or classism, others have asked about or even shared their experience of abuse in the church.