British Chaplain Leaves Private School After Anti-Equality Remarks

A chaplain at a British Methodist school has quit after suggesting gays and lesbians should remain single and celibate their whole lives.

Rev. David Hull, who worked at the Kingswood school in Bath, made his controversial remarks after ministers in the U.K.'s Methodist Conference, which is separate from the U.S. United Methodist Church, last summer recommended that clergy be allowed to perform same-sex weddings. A final vote is scheduled for next year. But Hull, chair of Methodist Evangelicals Together, voiced disapproval.

"As Methodist Evangelicals Together, we are very clear that the good news is for all," Hull told the Christian news website Premier.

"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 and both of those ways of living are absolutely good news and part of God's good news," he continued. "To move away from that is to move away from the good news."

But those published comments were quickly shared within the Kingswood community, drawing objection from parents and school members, according to The Guardian. That has now prompted Hull to stand down.

"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," Hull wrote in a letter to parents.

"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."

Hull worked at the school since 2015.