A 37-year-old Christian theology lecturer from the United Kingdom is fighting back after he allegedly faced dismissal and threats of referral to counterterrorism officers for expressing a Gospel-based view on homosexuality.
Aaron Edwards formerly taught at Cliff College in Derbyshire, England. In February, he posted to X: “Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this [because] they’re busy apologising for their apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not it’s true. This is a ‘Gospel issue’, by the way. If sin is no longer sin, we no longer need a Saviour.”
In response, Edwards was suspended from his position and then ultimately fired by the Methodist-run school for allegedly failing to delete the posts and “bringing the college into disrepute”. Cliff College’s statement to Christian Today accused the lecturer of using “inappropriate and unacceptable” language that did not reflect the “views or ethos” of the college.
Edwards has now filed a lawsuit against his former employer, per Harbinger’s Daily, suggesting that the college’s response was disproportionately harsh. He claims that his treatment has caused “severe physical distress” and harmed his chance at getting another job in the British higher education system.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Edwards said: “Anyone concerned about academic freedom, Christian freedoms and free speech should be deeply concerned by what has happened to me.” He continued: “The tweet was not defamatory; it was not an attack on any colleague or individual; it was not abusive; and it was not an extremist religious view.”
Additional legal representation is being provided by the Christian Legal Center.
Cliff College in Derbyshire, England, sacked and threatened to report theologian Dr. Aaron Edwards for a viral tweet in which he said homosexuality is “invading the church.” https://t.co/SovCf5tpuU
— News Pug (@news_pug) March 20, 2023
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the college said: “As internal processes remain ongoing, we are unable to respond to specific issues. As a Methodist institution, Cliff College is committed to being a safe and hospitable place where those with differing convictions are welcomed and encouraged to live and learn together as faithful disciples of Christ.”