Gay row after evangelical leader is appointed to human rights watchdog

The appointment of an evangelical Christian with controversial views on homosexuality to the human rights watchdog chaired by Trevor Phillips has led to a furore among campaigners who claim his opinions make him ineligible for the job.

Secular groups have asked for the removal of the Rev Joel Edwards, a vocal campaigner against legislation banning discrimination against the gay community, from the post of commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Mr Edwards, the general director of the Evangelical Alliance since 1997, has said Christians did not want to find themselves "coerced" by law into aiding promotion of homosexuality.

The National Secular Society claimed the appointment of Mr Edwards would damage the reputation of the commission and raised questions about its objectivity. Terry Sanderson, the society's president, said: "This appointment must be reversed immediately. Mr Edwards comes to the job with a pre-formed agenda that is based on a literalist reading of the Bible.

"How on earth is he going to look objectively at gay issues when he has made a career out of opposing equality for homosexuals?"

Mr Edwards was visiting Kenya as part of a church campaign for the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty and hunger by 2015. He said he had always stood up for equal rights, adding: "I remain daunted by the incredible task the commission has in striving to meet the needs of a diverse society.

"My faith convictions, along with the wide range of convictions held by my other colleagues on the commission, are entirely compatible with serving the interests of all citizens."

The Evangelical Alliance said it was "honoured" to be involved in the EHRC and Mr Edwards would "strive" to ensure the values of faith communities.

An EHRC spokeswoman said: "Joel Edwards has been appointed by the Secretary of State and we welcome him joining the commission. He is well qualified as leader of the Evangelical Alliance and brings expertise both as a faith leader and a senior figure in the black community.

"The Equality and Human Rights Commission is supposed to represent a wide range of views and opinions and we welcome lively debate. But the views of the commission on the sexual orientation regulations remains unchanged. The law is the law and it is our remit to uphold that."