School Chaplain Suggests Gay People Should Stay “Single And Celibate”
November 20, 2019A chaplain at a private school in Bath has resigned after suggesting gay people should stay single.
Rev David Hull said that he was saddened by the decision but that there had been “unhelpful tensions” in the school and that made him step down.
Hull’s comments came after the Methodist Church conference passed a notion “supporting the idea in principle of allowing ministers to conduct same-sex weddings on their premises,” ‘The Guardian’ reports.
Hull, who is chair of the Methodist Evangelicals Together group said: “As Methodist Evangelicals Together, we are very clear that the good news is for all. We believe that as part of that good news, God’s plan for creation is either that we are married as one man and one woman for life, or that we are single and celibate just as Jesus was and both of those ways of living are absolutely good news and part of God’s good news. To move away from that is to move away from the good news.”
In a letter, Hull said he had asked the church to curtail his role.
He wrote: “Since the summer, comments I made in the context of an internal debate within the Methodist Church have been circulated amongst the student, staff and parent bodies. This has brought unhelpful tensions into the school community.
“There has been no suggestion from church or school of any wrongdoing in making the comments. The views I have expressed have been recognised as being in line with the current position of the church and will continue to be affirmed by the church.
“But the situation nevertheless needs to be resolved. I have therefore requested from the church an immediate curtailment of my appointment as chaplain to Kingswood school, which has subsequently been granted.
“I have been very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Kingswood school as its chaplain. I wish the school well as it continues its mission of education and look forward to continuing to serve the Methodist church in ministry.”
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