A hospice chaplain was told by none other than a Methodist minister to remove his small cross pin on his jumper at work because it might offend the patients.

Derek Timms, who worked for a Marie Curie hospice in Solihull, was told he would face consequences and would need 're-training' if he refused to remove his small cross pin from his jumper - despite wearing that exact cross for the past four years without any complaint at the hospice. We're pleased to report that Marie Curie promptly issued Derek with an unreserved apology, clarifying that he could keep wearing his cross.

But what does it say about the state of the church when a minister is advocating the removal of the cross? Data from the 2021 census suggests that 46.2% of people in England and Wales identify as Christian - the lowest number on record. Perhaps it's time for the Church to step up, unashamedly, and be clear on what we believe.

Join us for this week's Round the Table, where Derek Timms will be chatting with Tim Dieppe and Ben John about his case.

Find out more: https://christianconcern.com/cccases/derek-timms/

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