Cross row man can display symbol

A Christian who refused to remove a cross from the dashboard of his company van will not be disciplined
12 April 2012

A Christian who refused to remove a cross from the dashboard of his company van was celebrating on Easter Sunday after hearing he will not be disciplined and can carry on displaying the symbol.

A row developed over the treatment of Christians in Britain after electrician Colin Atkinson, 64, was summoned for a disciplinary hearing by bosses at Wakefield District Housing for showing the eight inch cross, as he has done for the past 15 years, in his vehicle.

Although he was just a year from retirement, he was prepared to be sacked after refusing to remove it. His employers said it banned staff from displaying personal items in company vehicles.

Following intervention by the Christian Legal Centre and national media coverage, Mr Atkinson has been told disciplinary action against him has been dropped and that he can keep the cross, attached vertically, to the glove compartment of his liveried van.

Mr Atkinson, married to Geraldine and living in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the leaders of other faiths.

He said: "I am delighted that my employers have recognized my right to express my Christian faith by the quiet witness of displaying a small palm cross in my van.

"There are millions of people who wear a cross around their neck to bring them reassurance and comfort, and to me, it's a constant reminder of God's love for us, and how we should love and serve others - regardless of their faith or none.

"This is a decision which shows common sense and one which I trust other publicly-funded bodies will follow."

WDH, which has yet to formalise an agreement with Mr Atkinson, said: "We are pleased to announce that after prolonged negotiations with Colin, we are on the verge of reaching an amicable solution, allowing Colin to be close to his faith whilst maintaining WDH values."

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