The 3 - December 3, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, highlighting three recent stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes the story of a professor in the U.K. who was fired from his position because of online statements consistent with a Biblical view of sexuality.  Meanwhile, a Christian school in Vermont that actually operates by Christian principles, has been excluded from participation in a tuition program and athletic events because of its Biblical approach to matters of sexuality. And, closer to home, the Alabama case involving the protection of dangerous so-called "gender-change" treatments and surgeries, has request information for a high-ranking transgender federal officials, whose communication could be helpful to the state's defense.

U.K. professor fights back in court regarding firing for Biblical views

In February of this year, a professor at a college that has been characterized as a "Christian college" tweeted this out: 

Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this b/c they're busy apologizing 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.

CBN.com reported about the tweet by Dr. Aaron Edwards, a professor at Cliff College in Derbyshire, England, who was dismissed from his position. The article states, "In addition to his dismissal, the college revealed that, during a disciplinary hearing on March 8, administrators considered reporting Edwards to Prevent, an initiative monitoring allegations of terrorism in the U.K." The article says:

Edwards had been employed by the college for seven years without any formal disciplinary issues or warnings, according to the Christian Legal Centre.

So, Edwards has decided to fight back against this injustice on the basis of religion. CBN states: 

He's suing Cliff College seeking damages for unfair dismissal, and compensation under the Equality Act 2010. A full employment tribunal hearing for his case is expected next year, the Christian Legal Centre said.

"Anyone concerned about academic freedom, Christian freedoms, and free speech should be deeply concerned by what has happened to me," Edwards said in a statement.

Cliff College is an entity of the Methodist Church in Britain, which, according to the article, "voted in June of 2021 to allow same-sex marriages in its churches."  The article reports:

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, who grew up in the Methodist Church, said she's sad to see the Methodist Church, and a once renowned Bible college lose their way by no longer upholding marriage as God defines it, or supporting those who express it.

She is quoted as saying: "The Bible is clear that homosexual practice is sinful. Dr Edwards is right that if sin is no longer sin, we no longer need Jesus as our Saviour..." She also adds the poignant warning: "Every church denomination – including Methodists and the Church of England – should confidently proclaim this vision, rather than mirror the zeitgeist..."

Vermont school excluded from sports participation challenges decisions

Mid Vermont Christian School desires to operate by that word in its title: "Christian." Yet the state of Vermont, in direct contrast to what the U.S. Supreme Court has previously said, has excluded MVCS from being part of a state tuition program and participation in sports programs.

Alliance Defending Freedom relates on its website:

Vermont, through its Agency of Education and Vermont Principals’ Association, requires private, religious schools like Mid Vermont Christian to adopt the state’s view on human sexuality and gender—namely, that sex is mutable and biological differences do not matter—as a condition to participate in the state’s tuition program and athletic association. Doing so violates the First Amendment rights of Mid Vermont Christian, its students and families, and other faith-based schools by preventing them from practicing their religious beliefs about sexuality and gender.

ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker is quoted as saying, "Vermont continues its blatant discrimination against religious schools despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Carson v. Makin that the government cannot exclude families from public benefits just because they choose religious education for their children.”

The article also notes:

Although VPA has historically prohibited boys from playing on girls’ sports teams “to protect opportunities for girl athletes,” it recently adopted policies that allow biological males to participate in girls’ sports and is demanding Mid Vermont Christian adhere to those policies, even though they violate the school’s religious beliefs.

It adds:

When the Christian school reluctantly forfeited a girls’ high school basketball game against a team that had a male athlete playing for them, the VPA kicked Mid Vermont Christian out of the association.

The school, as ADF notes, has been excluded from non-athletic competitions, as well.

Transgender federal official drawn in to court case by defense of Alabama's child protection law

Fortunately, Alabama's Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, which would protect minors from receiving treatments and surgeries that falsely promise to change their sex, is currently in effect, thanks to a ruling by the 11th Circuit federal appeals court.  But, the law has been challenged in court, and the trial is expected next year.

The Federal government has become involved in the challenge to the case, and the defense has seized on its involvement. The Daily Caller reports that a biological male who presents as a woman, Rachel Levine, who is a high-ranking official in the Department of Health and Human Services, has had her records subpoenaed, and recently a court has allowed it.  The website states:

Defendants in the case requested the documents of Levine after the Justice Department filed a complaint challenging the Alabama law in April 2022. The DOJ did not comply with the plaintiff’s request, offering the emails of a subordinate to Levine.

A court order requires Levine to release requested e-mail records, according to the article, which goes on to say:

Attorney General of Alabama Steve Marshall defended his request for Levine’s correspondence for discovery in an August 25 court filing. Marshall requested Levine’s correspondence due to Levine’s position as a vocal and powerful advocate for child sex changes.

“Yet the United States refuses to designate Admiral Rachel Levine, who has taken the lead for the federal government on gender transition issues, even though it does not dispute the relevance of Levine’s communications,” the AG says in the filing.

The Daily Caller also notes: "The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is also under discovery in the case, due to their guidelines for transgender youth being repeatedly referenced by plaintiffs in the case. The group is stonewalling efforts at transparency." 

In March of this year, according to KATV Television, Levine said: "'gender-affirming care' for minors enjoys the support of President Joe Biden's administration, as it has 'support at the highest levels of the federal government.'"  Levine stated that he, in the language of the article, "believes the practice of medically changing a child's gender will eventually be normalized."