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Gay canon Jeremy Pemberton in Church discrimination tribunal Gay canon Jeremy Pemberton in Church discrimination tribunal
(about 13 hours later)
A clergyman whose promotion was blocked because he is in a same-sex marriage is taking his discrimination case against the Church to an employment tribunal. A clergyman barred from working because he married his partner has denied going against the Church's teachings, an employment tribunal heard.
Canon Jeremy Pemberton was refused the licence he needed to work as a hospital chaplain by the then acting bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. Canon Jeremy Pemberton was refused a licence to work as a hospital chaplain by the then acting bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.
The Rt Revd Richard Inwood argued that the clergyman's marriage was against the Church of England's teachings. He brought a discrimination case which started on Monday.
The tribunal, which opens on Monday, is being seen as a test case. The Rt Revd Richard Inwood argued that the marriage was against the Church of England's teachings.
Mr Pemberton became the first gay British clergyman to marry in April 2014. Although Mr Pemberton was employed by the NHS, he needed a licence from the diocese to work at King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield which was refused.
Job offer withdrawn At the opening of the hearing at Nottingham Justice Centre earlier, his lawyer Sean Jones said that "equality has reached the door of the Church. Where that boundary lies is for you to decide".
Bishop Inwood, now an honorary assistant bishop, revoked Mr Pemberton's permission to officiate as a priest the following month and wrote to the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in July saying he would not give Mr Pemberton a licence for the new job. Thomas Linden QC, representing the Church, suggested that Mr Pemberton had gone against the Church's teachings.
National Health Service chaplains are funded by the NHS and not the Church of England, but a chaplain still needs a licence from the relevant diocese, and so the offer to Mr Pemberton of a chaplaincy at King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield was withdrawn. He replied: "No, because I have had a civil marriage. I believe that was the moral thing to do."
At the tribunal, the Church will argue that its doctrine and pastoral guidance make clear that those in holy orders cannot enter into a same-sex marriage, as the Church still sees marriage as solely between a man and a woman. The Church is arguing that its doctrin`e makes clear that those in holy orders cannot enter into a same-sex marriage, as the Church still sees marriage as solely between a man and a woman.
Mr Pemberton, who still works as a chaplain for an NHS trust in Lincolnshire, will argue that the bishop unlawfully discriminated against him under the Equality Act in refusing the licence, and will also question whether the Church's view on same-sex marriage is a matter of doctrine. Mr Pemberton, who still works as a chaplain for an NHS trust in Lincolnshire, is arguing that the bishop unlawfully discriminated against him under the Equality Act in refusing the licence. He is also questioning whether the Church's view on same-sex marriage is a matter of doctrine.
The tribunal is being held at the Nottingham Justice Centre, in Carrington Street. The action is brought against Bishop Inwood and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.
The hearing will last all week, although a ruling is not expected until a later date.