28 February 2026
A judge has ruled that Felix Ngole was unlawfully discriminated against because of his Christian beliefs.
In 2022, Mr Ngole applied for a role as a mental health support worker and received a conditional job offer from Touchstone Leeds, a mental health charity based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. However, the offer was later withdrawn after concerns were raised about historic social media posts in which he discussed biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality.
The charity also referred to Mr Ngole's previous legal case against the University of Sheffield, which he won in 2019. In that case, he successfully challenged the university's decision to prevent him from completing his social work degree after it became aware of comments he had made during a Facebook debate, in which he described same-sex marriage as sinful in accordance with his Christian beliefs.
Touchstone Leeds argued that service users might discover Mr Ngole's beliefs and suffer negative mental health consequences as a result. In 2023, an Employment Tribunal ruled that the charity's actions were "proportionate" and "justified", citing concerns about potential reputational damage and the possible impact of his views on vulnerable LGBTQ+ service users.
Mr Ngole appealed that decision to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in London. The EAT has now overturned the original ruling, finding that the charity had discriminated against him because of his Christian beliefs. While acknowledging that many people may strongly disagree with Mr Ngole's views on marriage and sexuality, the judge held that such beliefs are protected under equality law.
In his judgment, Judge James Taylor stated that Mr Ngole's Christian beliefs are "protected religious beliefs" and that the reasoning adopted by the original tribunal was "not capable of justification".
The EAT also identified additional legal errors in the initial decision and has remitted aspects of the case to a newly constituted Employment Tribunal for reconsideration.
Following the ruling, Mr Ngole said:
"I am pleased that the Employment Appeal Tribunal has recognised that I should not have been refused this job simply because others might discover my mainstream Christian beliefs online.
"However, I am disappointed that the case has been sent back to the Employment Tribunal. Throughout my professional life, I have supported vulnerable individuals from all backgrounds and have never sought to impose my beliefs on anyone."
Mr Ngole has been supported throughout the proceedings by the Christian Legal Centre. Its Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said:
"We will continue to support Felix as he seeks full justice.
"Felix should not have had to return for a second interview and should have succeeded at the original hearing and appeal outright. The job offer was withdrawn and he was subjected to further scrutiny for one reason only – his Christian beliefs about marriage, which his employer found objectionable.
"Prolonging this case only adds to the injustice he has already faced. No one should be penalised for affirming the biblical understanding of marriage as a lifelong union between a man and a woman.
"The courts must send a clear message: Christian beliefs are protected in law, and no employer is entitled to discriminate against an employee because of them."
