Sacked couple 'had contract with God'

A COUPLE sacked from the Salvation Army were told they were 'employed by God' - and His contract is not legally binding.

When Graham and Amanda Glasgow were dismissed last May after 10 years' service - during which they received wages and paid tax and National Insurance - they were told by Salvation Army chiefs that they had no employment rights as they were simply 'answering a call from God' when they joined.

A Manchester industrial tribunal rejected their claim for unfair dismissal, ruling that the couple from Radcliffe, Lancashire, had a 'contract with God', which is not legally binding. Their solicitor, Bryan Slater, said: 'If you are a vicar, priest or a church minister you are not entitled to make any sort of claim against the church as any sort of contract is regarded as a 'spiritual matter'.'