Mrs A Sentinella and The First Church of Christ, Scientist

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Heard at: Croydon (by video) On: 7 to 10 July 2025 and in chambers on 18 July 2025 Claimant: Mrs Ednah Lawal Respondent (1) Mrs Audrey Sentinella (2) The First Church of Christ, Scientist Before: Employment Judge E Fowell Mrs G Mitchell Mr C Gardner Representation: Claimant In person Respondent Patrick Halliday of counsel, instructed by Kingsley Napley LLP RESERVED JUDGMENT The unanimous decision of the Tribunal is that all of the complaints are dismissed on the following main grounds: 1. This is a claim against a qualification body. The claim involves complaints of harassment and discrimination on grounds of race and sex. 2. The complaints relate to (1) a webinar held in 2021 (2) the decision to withdraw the claimant’s accreditation as a Christian Science Nurse and (3) a failure by the second respondent to respond to a complaint about that decision. 3. The Tribunal does not find that any of the complaints of discrimination were on grounds of race or sex or that any of the complaints of harassment were related to race or sex. 4. Further, the Tribunal does not accept that any of the complaints of harassment fall within the scope of section 53 Equality Act 2010, which concerns the liability of qualification bodies. 5. Nor does the Tribunal accept that the complaint of discrimination relating to the webinar falls within the scope of that section. 6. The complaints in relation to the webinar are also out of time. REASONS Introduction 1. The background to the case was set out by Employment Judge Lumby following the preliminary hearing on 15 November 2024 and we gratefully adopt it. As he explained: 38. Christian Science is a Christian denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the United States more than a century ago. The Second Respondent is the international head of the denomination, often referred to the...