The Church of England appears to be doubling down on its years-long isolation of Dr Bernard Randall following a recent safeguarding meeting.
Randall was dismissed from his post at a CofE school as posing a safeguarding risk after giving a talk in 2019 on accepted church teachings on sexuality. The Bishop of Derby subsequently barred him from preaching.
According to Christian Concern – which is campaigning for his restoration to the ministry – when Randall met most recently with CofE safeguarding adviser Lee Elliot and the Bishop’s deputy as part of its safeguarding investigation, he was told he remained a risk and that his future sermons and beliefs could cause emotional and spiritual harm.
When Elliot referred to his Christian beliefs as “your views”, Randall said: “These are not my views … they are the teachings of the Church of England”.
Randall is also awaiting a retrial by the Employment Tribunal. Various external agencies including the Teaching Regulation Agency and the Disclosure and Barring Service have vindicated him.
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