THE Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, has resigned with immediate effect. He wrote to the clergy of the diocese on Thursday morning that, having sought permission from the King, he had taken the choice “to retire from lively ministry within the Church of England”.
In the statement, Dr Perumbalath continued to disclaim the allegations made public on Channel 4 News on Tuesday evening (News online, 28 January). “I actually have consistently maintained that I actually have not done anything improper, and I proceed to achieve this.” He went on: “This will not be a resignation occasioned by any fault or liability”; nonetheless, he didn’t want this story to be “a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people whom it has been an honour and joy to serve”.
Dr Perumbalath suggested that he had been subject to a “trial by media”, which had made his position untenable, owing to “the impact it’s going to have on the Diocese of Liverpool and the broader church whilst we await further reviews and next steps”.
His senior colleagues within the diocese — who described Dr Perumbalath’s position as “untenable” last night — said in a press release: “We acknowledge his decision in taking this step for the great of the Diocese of Liverpool. This is a deeply painful situation, and we hold all concerned in our prayers.
“We will probably be liaising with the Archbishop of York in the approaching days to determine interim episcopal oversight for the diocese. We proceed working hard to support all those that have been affected by this story; and to support our clergy, congregations and staff as their ministry continues.”
In a press release, the Archbishop of York said: “I acknowledge the choice made by the Rt Revd Dr. John Perumbalath to resign from lively ministry within the Church of England. I respect his decision and thank him for his ministry. My thoughts and prayers proceed to be with all those that have been affected by this case.”
Speaking to the Church Times, he said that Dr Perumbalath’s decision to resign was “the fitting thing to do”, and had come after some “difficult conversations”.
Archbishop Cottrell knows Dr Perumbalath personally and well: when he was Bishop of Chelmsford, he appointed Dr Perumbalath each Archdeacon of Barking after which Bishop of Bradwell. On Thursday, he emphasised that he had had “no concerns” and “no reason to have concerns” about Dr Perumbalath’s behaviour with women on the time.
“When I heard of the primary allegation — which, simply to be clear, was after he’d develop into the Bishop of Liverpool — I used to be very shocked,” he said. “And it’s been a painful and difficult case to cope with. I fully understand that the victims and survivors should be given time to inform their story. As we speak, the primary complainant has not made a proper grievance, which is their prerogative, nevertheless it does make it very difficult to act when those things don’t occur.”
There was “a spot between safeguarding practice, disciplinary practice, and what in most other organisations you’d consider as HR practice”, he said. “I’ve heard some people say recently that there are huge safeguarding challenges [in the Church of England], but there’s also a giant HR challenge, and we don’t have the processes that may cope with these items adequately, transparently, with our current processes.”
He was, he said, “very committed” to renewing and changing those processes, a few of which is able to come before the General Synod next month. “But my very own personal view is that the complainant should make a proper grievance, and that that might be the fitting thing to do.”
The complainant in Chelmsford diocese has told the Church Times that she felt let down by Archbishop Cottrell: he recused himself from any involvement when her grievance got here to light, because he knew each Dr Perumbalath and the girl herself.
“Obviously that pains me, because she’s any individual I do know,” he said. “I felt that it was the fitting thing to do, for correct transparency and accountability, to pass the grievance on, which is what I’m sure and required to do: to pass it on to the NST and to others and never to be directly involved. I’m sorry that that’s what she feels. It is my practice all the time to achieve out to victims and survivors, to supply to satisfy them. As that is any individual I do know. I hope the day will soon come when that may occur.”
Channel 4 News reported that Dr Perumbalath “failed” the safeguarding a part of the choice process as Bishop of Liverpool, and that Archbishop Cottrell overrode the committee, to push through his appointment. Neither of those claims is true, he says.
“First of all, it’s the practice on every CNC that, before any individual is interviewed, there’s an interview with the director of safeguarding. And it is definitely a ‘pass/fail’ interview. So if you happen to had failed the interview, if there was sufficient concern about your ability to oversee safeguarding, you wouldn’t be interviewed in any respect. As for overruling the CNC. . . I’m afraid that simply isn’t true. I don’t know why someone would suggest that. I chair the CNC within the Northern Province, but I’m one vote in a secret ballot. I believe people will know from other CNC processes that the CNC has its own mind.”
In the sunshine of the Bishop’s resignation, there would now should be “proper interim arrangements” within the diocese of Liverpool, he said. An Acting Bishop could be put in place.
“Bishop John’s resignation is the fitting thing to do, and subsequently helps move things forward. But there are still things that are unresolved. There could also be things that we’d like to do to assist and support [both complainants], and I’ll play my part in working towards a resolution.”
