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	Sacked Horwich Vicar's Job Appeal Victory Bolton News June 17, 2008 http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/horwich/horwichnews/ display.var.2345697.0.sacked_horwich_vicars_job_appeal_victory.php A VICAR was sacked from his job after church bosses believed rumours he was having an affair with his secretary, a tribunal heard. The Rev David Johnston, of Chorley New Road, Horwich, was working as director of communications for the Liverpool diocese when he was fired. He claimed yesterday he was made to "feel a leper" by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones. Mr Johnston spoke out at an unfair dismissal hearing, where he also said his professional and personal life had been destroyed. The tribunal was told that in 2006, 56-year-old Mr Johnston told the bishop that his 33-year marriage to his estranged wife, Margaret, was over. It was only after the marriage ended that he began the relationship with secretary, Diane Pendleton, who worked with him in the Liverpool Diocese's communications office. An article appeared in a Sunday newspaper in November, 2006, in which Mr Johnston described as "a piece of salacious gossip", and for which he eventually received an apology. Days after the story was published, the bishop issued a statement to the Church Times saying he would be discussing Mr Johnston's future with him and he had given the couple advice. At a grievance hearing with his bosses, the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance, in March, 2007, Mr Johnston - thinking the comments were confidential - said the bishop had not given advice or support. He called him a liar and accused him of hypocrisy, using "intemperate language", the tribunal heard. The comments were relayed to the bishop and Mr Johnston's bosses suspended him without explanation. No-one would work with him unless he apologised, the tribunal in Liverpool was told. Mr Johnston was eventually fired in September last year, his employers claiming that his views made his job as the bishop's PR man untenable. He said the newspaper article "was an opportunity they seized with both hands". Mr Johnston was eventually awarded £14,534 in compensation because of the article when it was proved to be untrue. He was then given the choice of compensation or reinstatement to his £31,500-a-year post by the diocese. Mr Johnston picked compensation and was awarded £19,379 but had 25 per cent deducted for his "intemperate" choice of words when criticising the bishop. Before giving evidence yesterday, he chose to affirm rather than swear on the Bible, then told the tribunal the saga had made him ill. Mr Johnston said: "Quite simply, they have destroyed my life and the professional status it has taken me many years to develop," Mr Johnston said. "I am sad for the Bishop of Liverpool, who values public credibility higher than personal compassion; I am sad for the diocese, my employers, who have sacrificed their ethical principles on the altar of expediency; and I am sad for myself, that I have had to bring them to this place to seek the justice that they have denied me." His representative, Jenny Lennox, said: "I have to admit that this case has involved more underhand tactics and aggressive encounters than any other I have dealt with." The bench took just 15 minutes to rule in Mr Johnstson's favour. Speaking outside the tribunal, during which Mr Johnston winked affectionately at Ms Pendleton several times, he said: "I feel very happy that what I said was borne out in court. "Very often injustices are done to the small people, with decisions taken behind locked doors in smoke-filled rooms. "The decision today is a victory for the little people." The hearing will reconvene today to discuss how much money will be contributed towards Mr Johnston's pension.
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