Liverpool rector quits Church of England over ‘race, gender and sexuality discrimination’

The rector of Liverpool has quit the Church of England over “race, gender and sexuality discrimination”.

Canon Dr Crispin Pailing left the position he has held for a decade, saying he cannot continue to work “in an organisation which perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society”.

Dr Pailing, who was made an MBE for services to the community in December, advocates for same-sex marriage to be treated the same as the marriage of heterosexual couples.

In a statement, he blamed “institutional validation of homophobic and misogynistic views in the Church” for his decision.

He said: “I cannot, in good conscience, continue to have a representative role in an organisation which perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society on the grounds of sexuality, race, and gender.

“In the last few years, I have seen the institutional validation of homophobic and misogynistic views in the Church, and I cannot endorse this.”

‘Lamentable failure’

Dr Pailing, who said he would be taking up a role in the charity sector in the summer, added that the “obvious and lamentable failure of safeguarding across the Church is itself an abuse, and a further assault on the image of God”.

He said: “In contrast to the institutional actions which show such disregard for so many human beings, it seems to me that the majority of individuals and communities across the Church of England speak with the voice of inclusion.

“I am proud that Liverpool Parish Church continues to make a public declaration of the dignity of all people, in the knowledge that we are all made in God’s image.”

His comments come as the Church of England becomes increasingly divided over its stance on same-sex relationships.

Last year, the General Synod, the Church’s lawmaking body, approved blessings for same-sex couples, and the move was backed by both archbishops. But debate has continued to rage over how the radical update aligns with doctrine that still forbids gay marriage and the ban on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages.

The issue has divided progressives and traditionalists within the Church of England for decades, and reached a critical point following the landmark move to introduce blessings for gay couples.

Dr Pailing was the youngest rector of the church since 1945 when he was appointed in 2014. When the House of Bishops proposed to offer blessings for same-sex couples in January last year, he told the Liverpool Echo that his own church wanted to bring “clarity and simplicity” to an issue he described as “messy and complicated”.

He said: “From our point of view, it is very clear that marriage between same-sex couples should be treated on the basis and with the same equality [as] between opposite-sex couples.”

The Church of England has been contacted for comment.