Felix Ngole

Felix missed out on his dream social work job because of his views on marriage despite Court of Appeal free speech win.

What’s at stake?

• Christian workers should not be prohibited from employment simply because they adhere to biblical beliefs. Felix is fighting yet again to protect Christians who express their convictions and hold to a biblical view of gender, sexuality and marriage.
• Embracing and promoting controversial and unbiblical LGBT ideology should not be a condition of employment as a social worker. This is essentially forcing Christians to go against their convictions or risk losing their careers.
• God’s design for men and women is good, and we must be free to celebrate it. The gospel offers hope to all, and calling people to repentance and sharing the truth and love of the gospel must not be hindered.

Support Felix

Felix is receiving help from the Christian Legal Centre to take his case forwards.

We provide this support completely free of charge to Felix and others like him.

Make a donation today to help this work continue.

Timeline:

2015:

• Felix Ngole enters into a discussion on Facebook over the imprisonment of Kim Davies, the Kentucky marriage registrar who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. In the robust online debate, Felix quotes Bible verses affirming the traditional Christian opposition to same-sex-marriage and of the sinful nature of homosexual activity. He is reported some months later.

2016:

• February: Felix is expelled from his course at the University of Sheffield where he was studying to become a social worker after quoting Bible verses on Facebook that were deemed critical of homosexuality.

2017:

• 25 April: Felix wins the right to a Judicial Review.
• 3 October: Felix’s case is heard at the High Court. He gives evidence that Sheffield University had implemented an “appalling double standard” in its decision to expel him from his social work course.
• 27 October: Felix loses his case at the High Court, with the judges ruling that Sheffield University was justified in expelling him over him expressing his Christian beliefs.

2019:

• March: Felix takes his case to the Court of Appeal, with support from the Christian Legal Centre and Christian Concern.
• 3 July: The Court of Appeal overturns the High Court’s decision and upholds the rights of Christians to freely express their faith (Ngole v Sheffield University).

2022:

• May: Felix applies for a job as a social worker and was the best performing candidate in interview. He gains the highest marks of any candidate on an equality and diversity assessment, and is offered the role of Mental Health Support Worker.
• 10 June: The organisation withdraws the job offer after finding out about Felix’s free speech win in his previous case. He is told that unless he committed to “promoting and embracing” LGBT ideology, he would not be employed. Felix subsequently takes legal action against Touchstone Support Leeds with the help of the Christian Legal Centre.
• October: Felix finally was able to graduate from his social work course.

2023:

• July: Felix’s Employment Tribunal hearing is delayed until the following year.

2024:

• 2 April: Felix’s Employment Tribunal hearing starts.
• 3 April: Employment Tribunal Panel member Mohammad Taj, former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) between 2013/14, is forced to recuse himself after evidence was unearthed proving his pro-LGBTQI+ bias.
• 5 April: At the hearing, Mr Dave Pickard, a senior member of staff at Touchstone Support Leeds, says John 3:16 is ‘triggering’ and belief in two genders ‘could lead to death’
• 8 April: During the tribunal hearing, Dr Paul Sullins, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at The Catholic University of America analyses the validity of ‘Minority Stress Theory’ and says there is ‘no evidence’ Christian beliefs leads to increased LGBT suicide.
• 1 July: An Employment Tribunal rules that an NHS provider ‘directly discriminated’ against Felix by withdrawing his ‘dream job’ after discovering he had orthodox Christian beliefs on human sexuality. However, However, Judge Jonathan Brain also ruled that Touchstone were justified in not reinstating the job following the ‘second interview,’ leaving Felix no option but to appeal this controversial ruling.

2025:

• 29 October: Felix begins his hearing at the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Christian Concern continues to provide ongoing legal support and publicly advocate for justice.

2026:

• 16 February: Christian social worker Felix Ngole wins his case as the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in London rules that losing his job for his public Christian beliefs would be discriminating against Felix’s beliefs in a manner that is “not capable of justification”. The Employment Appeal Tribunal directs the Employment Tribunal to analyse the key issues of Felix’s case again, and Felix decides to appeal parts of the ruling to the Court of Appeal with the aid of the Christian Legal Centre.

Videos and media coverage

• Video: ‘I do this work because I love people’ | Andrea Williams talks with Felix Ngole ahead of hearing
• Devout Christian who was hounded out of Africa over his religion and then thrown out of a UK university for quoting the Bible wins free speech battle over his right to express views on gay marriage – The Mail on Sunday
• Christian social worker sues NHS-backed care firm after ‘being denied job for anti-LGBTQ+ views’ – The Telegraph
• Christian to appeal over job tribunal ruling – BBC

Commentary

• • “Minority stress theory – why Felix’s case is crucial for Christians” – Andrea Williams
  • “The showtrial of Felix Ngole – Andrew Tettenborn
  • “The persecution of Felix Ngole” – Lauren Smith
  • “Felix Ngole: My court case proves Christian beliefs are being censored by our government”
  • “My husband’s job offer was withdrawn because of his Christian beliefs” – Pepsy Ngole

Legal Documents

• The Employment Appeal Tribunal rules in favour of Felix Ngole
• The Court of Appeal ruling in Felix’s case against the University of Sheffield (Ngole v Sheffield University)
• Employment Tribunal ruling – Ngole v Touchstone Leeds

Support Felix

Felix is receiving help from the Christian Legal Centre to take his case forwards.

We provide this support completely free of charge to Felix and others like him.

Make a donation today to help this work continue.