Ecumenical News

This Sunday information appeared that Jeffrey John (58), a Church of England priest and the most senior openly gay cleric, is considering suing his employers for discrimination over his homosexuality.

John was rejected for the post of bishop twice. The first time he made headlines in 2003 when he was as the first openly gay person nominated as a Church of England bishop.

This however generated huge controversy and after protests from traditionalists, he was prevented from taking up the position.

In 2010 it was the second time to miss out on becoming a bishop. Evidence emerged that this was because of his sexual orientation.
Now it is being reported that he is threatening to sue the church for discrimination.

However, according to legal experts, Jeffrey John would be unlikely to win any action against the Church of England over his sexuality.

Daniel Barnett, an employment law specialist at Outer Temple chambers said that it would be difficult for John to prove his case. “Churches can't be forced to employ people where a significant number of the religion's followers object on theological grounds," as he said to Guardian.

It has been years now since the conflict over homosexuality and the ordination of gay clergy has emerged in the Anglican Church causing controversies, with critics saying it may cause a similar breakaway to that in the US Episcopal Church.

The 58-year-old John is in a longstanding civil partnership with another cleric but has declared to be celibate.