Prison Chaplain Claims He was Punished for Sharing Bible Verses about Homosexuality with Inmates

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Nov 02, 2015

Prison Chaplain Claims He was Punished for Sharing Bible Verses about Homosexuality with Inmates

A prison chaplain is suing the prison where he worked and ministered for reprimanding him for sharing Bible verses on homosexuality.

The Blaze reports that Rev. Barry Trayhorn had been volunteering at the chapel inside HM Prison Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, England since 2011. Trayhorn also worked as a paid gardener at the prison.

Trayhorn claims that after he shared the Bible verses, he was forced to resign from both his paid and volunteer positions because the attitude of prison officials toward him became discriminatory. He is suing the prison for compensation.

After resigning, Trayhorn also found out that a disciplinary hearing had been set to address his sharing of Bible verses on homosexuality with inmates, a number of whom are imprisoned for sexual crimes.

Trayhorn read a passage from 1 Corinthians to the inmates which states:

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Trayhorn claims that he was using the passage to speak to the prisoners about forgiveness, but was instead accused of violating equality laws.

“I was very angry,” Trayhorn said. “All I was doing was preaching the Bible and repeating the same message of repentance that was heard in many services.”

Trayhorn’s hearing will begin today (Nov. 2) and continue through November 10.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: November 2, 2015



Prison Chaplain Claims He was Punished for Sharing Bible Verses about Homosexuality with Inmates