Chaplain who said LGBTQ people should stay ‘single and celibate’ resigns
Reverend David Hull was chaplain at a school created by the founder of the Methodist Church
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A chaplain at a school created by the founder of the Methodist Church has resigned after saying LGBTQ people should stay single.
Reverend David Hull has been the chaplain at Kingswood School, in Bath, Somerset, since 2015, and earlier this year, the Methodist Conference passed in favour of allowing ministers to conduct same-sex weddings.
However, the Reverend – who was the chair of the Methodist Evangelicals Together group – started that God’s only plan is for a man and woman to marry and said gay and lesbian people should stay ‘single and celibate’, the Mail Online reported.
In July, Revd Hull told Christian news group Premier: “As Methodists Evangelicals Together, we are very clear that the good news is for all.
“We believe that as part of that good news, God’s plan for creation is either that we are married as one man and one woman for life, or that we are single and celibate just as Jesus was
“Both of those ways of living are absolutely good news and part of God’s good news.”
Now, four months after making the comments, Revd Hull handed in his resigned and in his resignation letter he wrote: “Since the summer, comments I made in the context of an internal debate within the Methodist Church have been circulated amongst the student, staff and parent bodies.
This has brought unhelpful tensions into the school community.
There has been no suggestion from church or school of any wrongdoing in making the comments.
The views I have expressed have been recognised as being in line with the current position of the church and will continue to be affirmed by the church.
But the situation nevertheless needs to be resolved.
“I have therefore requested from the church an immediate curtailment of my appointment as chaplain to Kingswood School, which has subsequently been granted.
“I have been very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Kingswood School as its chaplain.”
“I wish the school well as it continues its mission of education and look forward to continuing to serve the Methodist Church in ministry.”