The sudden and shocking departure of the Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalah, following allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment against two women, one of whom was a bishop, has stunned the Church of England.
In this Religion Media Centre briefing, our panel discussed the impact of his retirement on the city of Liverpool, the wider Church of England and its standing in the nation, where it is the established church. There were stories of a crisis of trust in the church, with clergy in Liverpool feeling disillusioned. The role of the media was discussed, as it was journalists who told the story of the allegations after which the bishop resigned. He denied he had done anything wrong and criticised his “trial by media”. The conversation highlighted the need for improved CofE safeguarding processes, with proposals coming up at the next General Synod meeting for an independent organisation to handle complaints and a new system for dealing with misconduct.
Ruth Peacock, Tim Wyatt, Mick Ord and Catherine Pepinster asked the questions. The guest speakers are: the Archdeacon of Liverpool, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes; Rev Stuart Haynes, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Liverpool; the Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North; Fr Alex Frost, podcaster and vicar of St Matthew the Apostle, Burnley, and a general synod member; Rev Canon Rachel Firth, Vicar of Huddersfield Parish Church, so a synod member; and Theo Hobson, journalist and author of Against Establishment: An Anglican Polemic (2003).
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