Palm Cross Christian Suspended from Work

By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service

WAKEFIELD, ENGLAND (ANS) -- British Christian electrician Colin Atkinson, who won the right to keep displaying a palm cross in his work van in April, has now been suspended from work after being continually harassed since his return.

Colin Atkinson with the offending palm cross

Colin's case received widespread publicity after he was asked to remove a palm cross from the dashboard of his Wakefield and District Housing Association (WDH) van in the North of England. Although he had displayed the cross for 15 years, he was threatened with being fired for not removing it following an anonymous complaint.

According to Christian Concern after a public outcry following a campaign by Christian Concern, his employers at WDH agreed that he could return to work and display the cross. Since then, however, Colin has suffered continual problems.

Despite the agreement with WDH, he has not been allowed to carry out his job properly. Colin's van was taken from him and he was told to travel in by bus, and he was then moved to a different office 16 miles away. Colin lodged a grievance but has now been asked to stay at home pending further investigations.

Colin said: "WDH have broken faith with me and not restored me to my job as they promised. I was told to travel in by bus and I suffered harassment at work. This is all because I wanted to keep a small palm cross in my van. I have not done anything wrong and I just want to return to my normal workplace."

Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, said:

"After a public outcry over his case, Colin Atkinson was allowed to return to work and to continue to display a palm cross in his van.

"However, since the media attention died away, he suffered continued harassment, and WDH has not honored its agreement with him to allow him to return to his old job. It seems that WDH hoped that Colin could be bought off and go quietly.

"At the Christian Legal Centre we will be doing all we can to ensure that WDH is held to account and that Colin is free to express his Christian faith in the workplace."

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Peter Wooding is an award-winning TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant under the name of Peter Wooding Productions (www.peterwoodingproductions.com). Having previously spent 10 years as news editor with UCB Radio in the UK, he has travelled extensively reporting from countries including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Dubai, South Korea, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Croatia, Israel and India. He now reports regularly for CBN News, ASSIST News Service, GDOP London, Russian Ministries, Whispering Word and Sorted Magazine. Peter and wife Sharon live in North Wales, UK with their three children. Passionate to see God's Justice and Mercy impact lives, Peter is director of a new UK ministry Mercy Projects International (www.mercyproject.org.uk) to help at-risk young people in Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Kosovo, the Middle East and beyond. Contact Peter for consultation at:peter@peterwoodingproductions.com or tel. +44 1244 549167/+44 7500 903067