A multimillion-pound charitable trust has been accused of conducting a “sham” disciplinary hearing before dismissing its CEO over his beliefs on marriage.
Kenneth Ferguson is suing The Robertson Trust for unfair dismissal and religious discrimination after he was sacked when chairwoman Shonaig Macpherson objected to Stirling Free Church, where he is an elder, renting premises owned by the Trust.
Macpherson was reportedly “incandescent” when she learned of the arrangement, as the church does not endorse same-sex marriage. An employment tribunal heard this week that her decision to dismiss Mr Ferguson was made before any disciplinary proceedings had taken place.
‘One outcome’
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An employment tribunal has heard evidence of the fury of a multimillion-pound charity trust’s chairwoman when she discovered its premises were being let to a church which does not support same-sex marriage.
Kenneth Ferguson, an elder at Stirling Free Church, had been CEO of The Robertson Trust in Scotland since 2011 but was dismissed in March this year after Chairwoman Shonaig Macpherson objected to his church renting premises owned by the Trust.
Mr Ferguson is suing the Trust for around £75,000. His legal action is being supported by The Christian Institute.
‘On the warpath’
On the first day of proceedings, the tribunal heard statements and emails from employees describing Macpherson’s behaviour upon learning of the church’s £6,500 agreement to use space in The Barracks Conference Centre in Stirling for its Sunday services.