An Employment Tribunal has delivered its judgment regarding the case brought by Dr Aaron Edwards against Cliff College.
The Tribunal has unanimously dismissed all claims made by Dr Edwards, a decision that Cliff College has publicly welcomed.
The Father-of-six and Christian theology lecturer launched legal action in 2023 after he was sacked by a Methodist Bible college for tweeting his Biblical perspective on homosexuality.
Cliff College, a well-known Methodist training centre in Derbyshire, professed to have an evangelical foundation but said Dr Edwards had brought the institution "into disrepute".
He received backlash online after publishing a post on X, which read “Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this b/c 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.”
Dr Edwards told Premier Christianity Magazine that he wrote this tweet during a time that "the Church of England was having discussions around blessing same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage".
In a statement on their website, Cliff College wrote: "A judgment has now been made by the Employment Tribunal in the case brought by Dr Aaron Edwards against Cliff College.
"We are pleased with the Tribunal’s unanimous judgment that has dismissed all of the claims made by Dr. Edwards."
Cliff College extended its best wishes to Dr. Edwards and his family, expressing a desire to move forward after what has been described as a "long and involved process".
The College emphasised its commitment to being an inclusive environment where individuals with differing convictions are encouraged to coexist as "faithful disciples of Christ".
The spokesperson highlighted the institution's dedication to mutual respect and a "generosity of spirit", rooted in its biblical and evangelical belief in God's love for all people.
In closing, the College reiterated its ongoing commitment to fostering a safe and open environment for both staff and students. "We strive for Cliff College to be a place where everyone feels safe, everyone feels heard, and everyone feels able to share their convictions in an open, appropriate, and respectful manner, always mindful of how we communicate with each other and how our comments might be received," the statement continued.
The College also expressed a readiness to acknowledge and address any areas where it could improve.
Dr Aaron Edwards has said that he will appeal the ruling.
In a statement released by Christian Concern, he said: “I am very surprised at the judgment. I believe ours was an extremely strong case and was very well supported by the Christian Legal Centre
“This judgment is a real shame upon our society. If upheld, it will have significant negative implications for Christian free speech in future years.
“Knowing of the many faithful Christians who have come through that college for well over a hundred years, I don't mind saying that this convictional decline is genuinely disgraceful and the leaders should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to call themselves an evangelical college in light of what has happened.
“Christian justice matters, and justice has not been done in this case. I believe the College leaders, if they search themselves, know this. I did not want to bring this upon the college, and certainly not upon myself. We will be appealing.”