A Christian teaching assistant in England who was fired after being falsely arrested while street preaching has accepted a settlement from the school that dismissed him.
According to a January 11 press release from the London-based Christian Concern, Andy Nix, 65, was formerly employed as a teaching assistant at Temple Moor High School in Leeds, a job he obtained through a teaching agency.
In July 2021, Nix, a Christian for 42 years, was preaching alongside Dave McConnell in Leeds City Centre. McConnell “had responded to a series of questions from members of the public about what the Bible says about LGBT relationships, but Mr. Nix did not,” said the press release. “During the preaching, members of the public had assaulted, verbally abused and stolen property from the preachers, but the police took no action.”
But when McConnell dared to challenge the prevailing LGBT orthodoxy by accurately referring to a transgender woman as a man, the bobbies pounced. McConnell was arrested, convicted of insulting a member of the public, fined, and ordered to perform community service. He was also reported to the government’s Joint Counter-Terrorism Team. McConnell appealed his conviction, and a judge overturned it and dismissed all charges against him.
Since Nix was also preaching, the cops took an interest in him, too. According to Christian Concern, they questioned him “about his preaching on what the Bible says about gender and sexual ethics.” Nix claims his only comment on the subject that day was to suggest that anyone who “think[s] all homosexuals are happy with their lives” is “living in cloud cuckoo land,” which would seem to be indisputable. After all, not all heterosexuals are happy with their lives, either.
Then, “suddenly and without warning,” the police “arrested Mr. Nix for a public order offense and bundled him into a police van,” reported Christian Concern. He was jailed overnight. The next month, all the charges against him were dropped.
“In January 2022,” noted the press release, “news appeared in local media in Leeds that Mr. Nix intended to take legal action against the police for wrongful arrest.”
Near the end of March 2022, Nix was called into Temple Moor headteacher Matthew West’s office, whereupon West asked him if he had participated in a “rally” in Leeds City Centre and intimated that he had been arrested for making “homophobic remarks.”
Nix replied that he had indeed been preaching at that location and that the charges against him had been dismissed.
Christian Concern reported:
Nonetheless, Mr. West said that Mr. Nix’s Christian beliefs did not “align” with the school ethos and values, particularly around inclusivity. He said that there were students in the school who would be offended if they became aware of Mr. Nix’s Christian beliefs.
Parents and students had reportedly said that they did not understand how a Christian with such beliefs could be allowed to work in a school.
Yes, “inclusivity” means excluding Christians.
“I was shocked and amazed that the headteacher could do what he did,” said Nix. “He made me feel like a criminal; his aim was to bully and humiliate me into renouncing my Christian activity. I believe if I had renounced it, I could have kept my job.”
Nix, however, refused to renounce his faith. He was fired and told to leave the school premises forthwith.
Having been nixed, he appealed the decision to the school. Receiving no response, he took legal action against the school in the Employment Tribunal. He “made claims for harassment, discrimination and said the school had breached his right to freedom, thought and religion under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR),” wrote Christian Concern.
His lawyers said that the school and the agency had directly discriminated against him because of his protected Christian beliefs and that reasons for the sacking were based on “hearsay” evidence.
It had been alleged that Mr. Nix had said same sex attracted people would “burn in hell” which he vehemently denies ever saying. While Mr. Nix does preach that Christian sexual morality and marriage between a man and a woman is a good thing, he never said that being same sex attracted was “wrong” and/or “immoral” and would result in “burning in hell,” which was maliciously alleged. [Emphasis in original.]
Rather than going to trial, the school chose to settle with Nix, paying him approximately $8,800. Nix said he believes the settlement “was a recognition of wrongdoing,” although the school did not admit to any.
“It is, however, a worrying sign if Christians are not allowed to debate, preach and express their faith in public without fear of losing their livelihoods,” he added.
Nix said he believes that his sacking prevented him from obtaining a permanent teaching job despite having the qualifications for it.
“I unashamedly love Jesus and my Christian faith is very important to me. I want others to know and understand this Good News and hope for their lives. I should not be treated like a criminal for doing this,” he declared.
But considering that the founder of the faith was treated like the worst kind of criminal and warned his followers that they too would be hated, such treatment should not come as a surprise.
For believers like Nix, it can even strengthen their faith.
“The experience has … helped me grow in resilience,” he said, “and reminded [me] of the cost involved in following Jesus Christ.”
