Dear supporter,
The Christian Institute is helping Kenneth Ferguson who is bringing a legal action for unfair dismissal and religious discrimination against The Robertson Trust. He was a highly successful CEO at the Trust for nine years. But everything changed when the Chair, Shonaig Macpherson, heard that Kenneth’s church, Stirling Free Church, was renting Trust premises for their Sunday services.
Mr Ferguson said: “I was told by two members of my senior management team, that Shonaig Macpherson went ‘ballistic’ and was almost unable to speak because she was so angry. She kept asking why the Trust had rented to the Stirling Free Church. One colleague told me that Shonaig had said ‘definitely not the Free Church, anyone but the Free Church, they don’t believe in same-sex marriage’.”
Within days the church was given notice to quit the property. The Trust claimed they had a policy preventing rentals for activities promoting religion. However, they were unable to provide a copy of the policy because it did not exist.
The Trust blamed Mr Ferguson for the arrangement with the church, despite him recusing himself from all negotiations about the rental.
You can read more about the case here:
His employment tribunal case is due to start on Monday 14 December. It is expected to run until Thursday.
We are also helping the church which is bringing a separate claim for religious discrimination. That case is expected to be heard in spring 2021.
Please pray for:
- Peace for Kenneth and his family
- The lawyers representing Kenneth: Barrister Thomas Cordrey and Solicitor Tom Ellis
- Sam Webster, our in-house lawyer who is overseeing the case
- Our Public Affairs team as they co-ordinate with the media
- Fair reporting of the case in the press
- Just outcomes for Kenneth and for Stirling Free Church
- Greater respect for the Christian belief that marriage is between a man and a woman
