Protesters at Southwell Minster have criticised Archbishop of York John Sentamu for discriminating against married gay chaplain Jeremy Pemberton. This meant that he could not take up a job at a local NHS trust.


Protesters at Southwell Minster have criticised Archbishop of York John Sentamu for discriminating against married gay chaplain Jeremy Pemberton. This meant that he could not take up a job at a local NHS trust.

He had been selected by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as chaplaincy and bereavement manager. But he was refused a licence by acting Bishop for Southwell and Nottingham Richard Inwood, who consulted Sentamu.

House of Bishops guidance issued in early 2014 stated that marrying a same-sex partner went against church teaching and would not be appropriate for clergy. But in some dioceses the penalties are far less. Pemberton remains a chaplain at United Lincolnshire Hospitals.

He has filed an employment tribunal claim. His case is complicated by the fact that the NHS is generally an equal opportunities employer. What is more, if he had been a layperson (as some chaplains are), official church policy would have been to accept his conscientious decision.

The archbishop was reopening the recently refurbished Archbishop’s Palace, home to some of his predecessors. These included Cardinal Wolsey, right-hand man to Henry VIII, founder of the Church of England.

One of the notable differences from the Roman Catholic past was that priests were allowed to enter into legal marriages. Those not called to celibacy had previously struggled or, in some cases, had secret relationships, a less than ideal situation.

Heterosexual clergy as well as laypersons have, since the reformation, been allowed to enjoy the intimacy and companionship, and face the challenges, of marriage. But this has been denied to those in love with members of the same sex.

Now that the law has changed to allow equal marriage, some feel it is right to make this pledge. Many theologians today believe that committed same-sex partnerships are morally acceptable and most church members agree. Many, if not lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) themselves, have friends or relatives who are.

However senior clergy in the Church of England have been afraid of upsetting the minority passionately opposed to letting clergy and congregations act in line with their own consciences, as happens on various other matters.

The bishops are also under pressure from leaders of certain other provinces, some of whom are opposed even to basic human rights for their own LGBT members, and unwilling to consider interpretations of the Bible different from their own. However Church of England leaders are increasingly aware that their stance is undermining mission and ministry.

Those who took part in the protest included Peter Tatchell, Davis Mac-Iyalla, Tracy Byrne and Rev Christina Beardsley. Changing Attitude, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (to which I belong) and the Peter Tatchell Foundation were represented.

Tatchell urged Sentamu to repent since “discrimination is not compatible with Christian values.” The archbishop responded that he could not comment since legal action was pending.

Whatever the outcome of the tribunal, controversy over harsh treatment of LGBT clergy such as Pemberton is undermining the church’s ability to witness to the good news of God’s love for all.

It might be wise for the Church of England to return to the official position set out in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion during the reformation: “Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, are not commanded by God’s Law, either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage: therefore it is lawful for them… to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness.”

———-

© Savitri Hensman is a widely published Christian commentator on politics, welfare, religion and more. An Ekklesia associate, she works in the equalities and care sector.