The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) says it has filed a legal claim against FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield, after it cancelled Franklin Graham's UK tour date for the 6th June.
BGEA told Premier it is working towards a resolution with the parties in Sheffield after they broke the terms of their legal contract.
"I want to encourage FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield City Trust to meet with us and discuss options for a way forward," said Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"People from 190 churches of different denominations in Sheffield are working with us even now and praying for this evangelistic outreach. This case is ultimately about whether the city of Sheffield will discriminate against the religious beliefs of Christians and silence their voices."
BGEA has filed a legal claim to ask the court to allow the Graham Tour to be held at FlyDSA Arena as planned.
In addition to the legal proceedings in Sheffield, BGEA has also filed claims against parties that were responsible for cancelling contracts for other Graham tour stops, including Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Wales.
All eight venues previously set to host the evangelist's upcoming UK preaching tour pulled out following protests from LGBT campaigners.
Those opposing Graham’s visit have argued that he is "anti-gay" because of remarks made in relation to homosexuality being classed as "sin".
BGEA maintains the position that there is "no evidence that any BGEA event involving Franklin Graham has ever caused a danger to public safety or incited public disorder."
A statement from the organisation reads: "The actions taken by these venues to publicly repudiate these contracts are clear efforts to distance the decision-makers from BGEA, Franklin Graham and other Christians who hold similar beliefs.
"This disregard for principles of good faith and fair dealing, based on the mere suggestion that a person's sincerely held religious views or statements are 'hateful' or would result in public disorder, should be very alarming to anyone who is genuinely concerned about diversity, inclusion and tolerance, let alone free speech and the free exercise of religious beliefs."
