Dismissed CofE chaplain seeks judicial review

Dr Bernard Randall, the Church of England chaplain dismissed from his post at a CofE school after giving a sermon on accepted church teachings on sexuality, is taking further legal action, saying the church has ‘closed ranks to protect senior people’.

He is seeking a judicial review of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s decision not to allow disciplinary proceedings against the Bishop of Derby, Rt. Rev Libby Lane, who blacklisted him as a safeguarding risk. He has since been vindicated by various organisations, including the Teaching Regulation Agency and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Dr Randall is being supported by Christian Legal Centre who said: ‘Only the CofE is now dragging its feet over giving him his licence and life back.’ He said: ‘In my case, safeguarding has been weaponised as a political tool against a theological position which is wholly consistent with the Church’s doctrine.’