Rector 'had to speak out over church discrimination'

Dr Crispin Pailing is to hold his final service as a Liverpool church leader on Sunday

An outgoing church leader who accused the Church of England of "institutional homophobia and misogyny" said he felt compelled to speak out and "challenge injustice".

Reverend Canon Dr Crispin Pailing said there was "structural discrimination" against women and the LGTBQ+ community.

He is set to hold his final service as Rector of Our Lady and St Nicholas Church in Liverpool city centre on Sunday.

The Diocese of Liverpool said it recognised "opinions differ on same sex marriage" across its churches and they were "saddened" by Dr Pailing's departure.

'Blatant'

Dr Pailing, an advocate for the equal treatment of same-sex marriage and opposite-sex marriage in the church, announced his resignation earlier this year.

He said: "If we don’t speak out where we see people being discriminated against, then how are we going to challenge injustice in society?"

Speaking at length for the first time since the announcement, Dr Pailing said it was wrong that women in the clergy could not apply for certain roles in the church, and that "you can't get married in church if you're gay".

“Blatant homophobia and misogyny” were also on show in some worshipping communities, he added.

"If the values that we hold as society begin to separate from the values we demonstrate in the church then that of course has an impact, people will be put off.

"What I hope is what I said will allow other people to find their voice."

Dr Pailing is set to start work at a charity in Liverpool

After ten years overseeing Liverpool Parish Church and parish ministry, Dr Pailing will hold his final service as Rector of Our Lady and St Nicholas Church on Sunday.

Ahead of his final service on Sunday, he said it would be "emotional, but it will also be the right time to move on".

Parishioners have been attracted to the church in Liverpool due to its inclusive approach.

"You walk through the doors of St Nick's, and you'll be treated the same", he said.

Dr Pailing said his exit would come with a "sadness, but also pride at what all of us, as a team, and a community have achieved".

In a statement, the Diocese of Liverpool said it recognised that "within the Church of England and across churches in our diocese, opinions differ on same sex marriage".

"However, we are very clear that we stand firmly against any form of discrimination and work to enable inclusion and diversity and we support the highly successful Open Table network which provides safe spaces of worship for those from the LGBTQ+ community," a representative said.

They added that they were "saddened" by Dr Pailing's departure and thanked him for his many achievements whilst in Liverpool.