Leeds tribunal hears Touchstone charity's fears over Christian's views

Felix Ngole previously won a legal case against Sheffield University

A charity withdrew a job offer to a Christian over concerns his views on homosexuality could affect vulnerable clients, a tribunal has heard.

Social worker Felix Ngole, 46, claims Leeds-based mental health charity Touchstone discriminated against him.

An employment tribunal has heard fears emerged over how his views could affect vulnerable people he might deal with.

A Touchstone spokesperson said Mr Ngole could not give assurances he would meet all the job's needs.

Mr Ngole has claimed Touchstone Leeds discriminated against him directly and indirectly because of his religious beliefs when they refused him the job as a hospital discharge mental health support worker in Wakefield in 2022.

He has also claimed he was a victim of harassment.

'Alarm bells'

On Friday, Kathryn Hart, Touchstone's director of people and culture, told the hearing in Leeds how Mr Ngole had out-performed all other candidates in his interview.

He was provisionally offered the job pending references, she added.

But Mrs Hart said when those references arrived they were brief and inadequate, prompting a colleague to search on the internet for Mr Ngole's name.

That search immediately disclosed news articles about how Mr Ngole had won a Court of Appeal case after Sheffield University tried to stop him completing his degree following social media posts he made about homosexuality and same-sex marriage being a sin.

Mrs Hart told the tribunal that immediately "rang alarm bells", because the role involved dealing with extremely vulnerable people who were being discharged from hospital after mental health problems, many of whom were LGBT.

She was asked by Michael Phillips, representing Mr Ngole, whether she thought the existence of the online news articles outlining his client's belief was enough to cause problems even if he never brought up the subject with service users.

'Withdrew offer'

Mrs Hart said many of the LGBT service users being discharged from hospital had suffered extensive rejection in their lives and were likely to research the background of those charged with supporting them.

She said it was possible that seeing the articles about Mr Ngole meant "they could end up back in hospital", adding that many clients in that situation were known to have suicidal thoughts.

Mrs Hart said Mr Ngole was invited back for a meeting in July 2022 to discuss whether his views and ethos aligned with those of Touchstone and whether he could fulfil the role.

She said Mr Ngole became hostile during the meeting, and "he did not give any assurance he would be able to meet all the needs of the job".

"That's why we withdrew the job offer," she explained.

Mrs Hart outlined concerns she had during the meeting about how Mr Ngole would work with LGBT service users, but also about his engagement with equality training within the organisation, which she said provided mental health services to 10,000 people across Yorkshire.

She told the tribunal she believed Mr Ngole's "values and ethos were not aligned with the Touchstone's, which are anti-discriminatory".

'Respectfully disagreeing'

In a witness statement heard earlier this week by the tribunal, Mr Ngole said: "As a Christian, I do not see any conflict in working with and for people from the LGBT community.

"That said, there is a distinction between respecting and loving the person and yet lovingly and respectfully disagreeing with their views and/or behaviours."

Mr Ngole has also denied claims vulnerable people may have killed themselves if he had been given the job, after Mr Phillips summarised part of an expert's report submitted by Touchstone as saying his employment by the charity "may lead to the death of some service users".

The Cameroon-born former asylum seeker is a grandfather-of-two who has also worked as a youth pastor, housing officer and teacher.

The tribunal has previously heard that Mr Ngole had been a Christian since the age of four and believed in the literal truth of the Bible.

The hearing continues.