Vicars Are Employed by God Not the Church, Says Court in Landmark Ruling - Home News - UK - The Independent

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Vicars are employed by God not the Church, says court in la... http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/vicars-ar...

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A vicar who lost a four-year battle over his right to claim forunfair dismissal has cleared up one question vicars are notemployed by the Church, but called by God.

The Rev Mark Sharpe claimed he was forced out of his role in theChurch of England parish of Teme Valley South, in the Dioceseof Worcestershire, when locals began a hate campaign againsthim. He said his dog was poisoned, his car tyres slashed and hismail was tampered with. Mr Sharpe moved to the area with hiswife and four children to take up the parish post in 2005, butstepped down four years later, saying he had developed healthproblems as a result of harassment.

He took his case for unfair dismissal to court, claiming thatChurch and the Bishop of Worcester should have warned himabout the problems the parish was facing, and offered moresupport in the job. The union Unite backed his case, calling for alandmark legal decision which would see faith leaders finallyawarded basic employment rights.

READ MORE: HOMELESS PERSON MAKES TOUCHING DONATION TO CHURCH STEPHEN FRY RESPONDS TO CHRISTIAN BACKLASH AFTERCONFRONTING GOD

But Court of Appeal judges disagreed. Lady Justice Arden, LordJustice David and Lord Justice Lewison ruled that, as a man of

Vicars are employed by God not the Church, sayscourt in landmark ruling

Rev Mark Sharpe claimed he was forced out of his role after hate campaign

HELEN CARTER

Thursday 30 April 2015

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the cloth, Mr Sharpe was neither a party to a contract ofemployment, not a worker and therefore could not claim forunfair dismissal.

The Rt Rev John Inge, the Bishop of Worcester, said he wasdelighted with the decision to recognise that faith leadersserved a divine boss, rather than one of the flesh.

To become employees, clergy would lose the freedoms which areat the heart of the Churchs ministry and this is not somethingthat they want to give up, he said. It is regrettable that Unitefails to understand the context in which parish clergy exercisetheir ministry whilst the Church seeks to uphold the freedomsenjoyed by its clergy.

It is not the first time Mr Sharpe has taken legal action againstemployers. He previously lodged a successful case against theMinistry of Defence after being exposed to hardcorepornography while acting as a chaplain to servicemen travellingon warships.

The Navy admitted sexual harassment but denied discriminationon grounds of religious affiliation.

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Vicars Are Employed by God Not the Church, Says Court in Landmark Ruling - Home News - UK - The Independent