THE Rector of Liverpool Parish Church, Canon Crispin Pailing, has resigned, telling his congregation that he could “not, in good conscience” represent a Church which “perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society”.
He is to take up a recent post within the charity sector.
Canon Pailing, who has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT+ inclusion, announced his decision to the congregation on Sunday morning. In a press release released afterwards, he described his ten years in post as “wonderful. . . Liverpool Parish Church has one of the vital significant civic roles within the country, and through the previous few years the congregation has modified and grown in every way.”
He went on, nevertheless: “I cannot, in good conscience, proceed 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 previous few years, I even have seen the institutional validation of homophobic and misogynistic views within the Church, and I cannot endorse this.”
His statement also said that the “obvious and lamentable failure of safeguarding across the Church is itself an abuse, and an additional assault on the image of God. In contrast to the institutional actions which show such disregard for thus many human beings, it seems to me that nearly all of individuals and communities across the Church of England speak with the voice of inclusion.
“I’m proud that Liverpool Parish Church continues to make a public declaration of the dignity of all people, within the knowledge that we’re all made in God’s image.”
Canon Pailing became the youngest rector of the church since 1945 when he was appointed in 2014. He was appointed MBE within the King’s New Year Honours List for services to the community of Liverpool (News, 5 January).
When the House of Bishops proposed to supply services of prayer and blessings for same-sex couples, in January 2023 (News, 18 January 2023), he told the Liverpool Echo that his own church desired to bring “clarity and ease” to a difficulty which he described as “messy and complex”.
He said on the time: “From our perspective, it is extremely clear that marriage between same-sex couples needs to be treated on the idea and with the identical equality [as] between opposite-sex couples. We see no difference. The Church of England has maintained a difference, which we reject, but we will’t marry couples, as that may be a legal process.”
He continued: “While the Church was issuing complicated statements about what that exactly means, we are saying that, should you come to us for a blessing after your marriage, we are going to bless that marriage whether you’re gay otherwise you’re straight.”
He concluded: “For a declining Church, separating ourselves from the culture that’s around and the beliefs held by nearly all of churchgoers seems silly.”
In his statement on Sunday, Canon Pailing commends the previous Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, and the current Bishop, the Rt Revd John Perumbalath, for each having taken a major public stance against discrimination. He concludes: “The diocese of Liverpool has been a very good place to be for the last decade and I commend it to others.”
Canon Pailing and his wife, the Revd Rowena Pailing, will proceed to live in Liverpool with their two sons. His statement pays tribute to the people of Liverpool Parish Church “and people each locally and nationally who’ve spoken with courageous and prophetic voices”.
