Rector of Liverpool accuses CofE of institutional prejudice - OTN Director responds
THE RECTOR of Liverpool Parish Church, one of the most significant civic roles in the Church of England, announced on Sunday that he could no longer, ‘in good conscience’ represent the Church which ‘perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society on the grounds of sexuality, race and gender’.
Revd Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, who has led the church of Our Lady & St Nicholas in the city centre since 2014, wrote in a srongly worded statement on social media:
“I have seen the institutional validation of homophobic and misogynistic views in the Church, and I cannot endorse this”
Revd Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, Rector of Liverpool since 2014, who has announced his plan to leave the Church of England for a job in the charity sector.
He announced his plan to leave ordained ministry in June to take up a new role in the city’s charity sector.
He also spoke highly of the two Bishops of Liverpool with whom he has served, the retired Right Revd Paul Bayes, a Patron of the Open Table Network, and the Right Revd John Perumbalath, who
have both taken a significant public stance against the discrimination which many experience
and
the majority of individuals and communities across the Church of England [who] speak with the voice of inclusion.
When the Church of England’s House of Bishops proposed to offer services of prayer and blessings for same-sex couples in January 2023, Dr Pailing told the Liverpool Echo that Liverpool Parish Church wanted to bring ‘clarity and simplicity’ to an issue which he described as ‘complicated and messy ’. He added:
“The Church of England’s governing body, the General Synod, is continuing to debate identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage and the rhetoric has been quite toxic at times. So, I suspect that this will have been on the Rector of Liverpool’s mind.”
‘marriage between same-sex couples should be treated on the basis and with the same equality [as] between opposite-sex couples. We see no difference. The Church of England has maintained a difference, which we reject, but we can’t marry couples, as that is a legal process.’
The Open Table Network, which began in Liverpool in 2008. has benefited from the Rector of Liverpool’s leadership and encouragement through the hospitality of Liverpool Parish Church in hosting events such as:
a positive alternative to conservative evangelist Franklin Graham preaching in the city
an exhibition of painting illustrating God’s inclusive love for everyone
unapologetic celebrations of the lives of LGBTQIA+ people who have died, like Grace, who transitioned in her 70s, and her wife Charlotte, who renewed their marriage vows in Liverpool Parish Church.
Director ot the Open Table Network Kieran Bohan said:
Many of our community members will recognize sad truths in his statement that homophobia and misogyny still abound in sections of church life - in the Church of England and other churches. We wish Crispin every blessing in his next steps, thank him for his contribution to ending discrimination and harm within the Church of England, and hope that his statement inspires many to continue in this work.
In an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, Kieran added:
The Church of England's governing body, the General Synod, is continuing to debate identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage and the rhetoric has been quite toxic at times. So, I suspect that this will have been on the Rector of Liverpool's mind.
In response to Dr Pailing’s claim that most ‘individuals and communities across the Church of England speak with the voice of inclusion’, he continued:
my experience is also that there is a disconnect and a distinction between what the average person in the pew is thinking and feeling and wanting to see happen in their churches. But it's the national church leadership that doesn't always appear to reflect that diversity and desire for inclusion.
While critical of the Church of England’s national leadership, Dr Pailing acknowledged:
the Diocese of Liverpool has been a good place to be for the last decade and I commend it to others.
As almost a quarter of the Open Table Network’s communities are on Merseyside, OTN DIrector Kieran spoke of the good work that is happening across the region, and the contrast with some other areas nationally:
It's not possible to say that the church is a safe enough place for LGBTQIA+ people wherever you go. There are great examples of welcome and inclusion and affirmation across Merseyside. We've got seven churches on Merseyside that are hosting Open Table communities that are enabling safe places for people to explore and deepen their faith and use their gifts in service of everyone. So in this area we have worked hard together with colleagues like the Rector of Liverpool to make it happen. It's not true everywhere you go.
While Dr Pailing acknowledged the growth of Liverpool Parish Church during his time there, BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Phil Cooper asked whether the perception of prejudice from the Church of England raises wider questions about the role and relevance of the church in people's lives. Kieran responded:
The decline in church membership has been happening for some time, so it's hard to pin it on one particular cause, but the research does show that for the younger generation the perception of prejudice within the national church is one reason why younger people are less likely to feel like that they belong and want to be part of it, particularly the perception of homophobia, misogyny and racism that our Rector of Liverpool has referred to.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Liverpool told Premier Christian News:
Naturally, we are saddened that Father Crispin has decided to leave Liverpool Parish Church and parish ministry. His departure will be the loss of a fine priest who has had many achievements whilst in Liverpool, and we thank him for all the work he has done. We wish Father Crispin all the best in his new career, which we are sure he will excel at.
