Nicholas Chamberlain, the Bishop of Grantham has publicly admitted to being in a ‘long term and committed’ homosexual relationship. Chamberlain is the first bishop in the Church of England to be open about his sexuality.
Although Bishops are allowed to be in same-sex relationships but they are to maintain celibacy and not be married. Chamberlain claims his sexuality was never a secret from the Church. The suffragan in Lincoln diocese was ordained last year by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who while talking to the BBC, said that he knew about Chamberlain’s sexuality.
Bishop Chamberlain came out to in an interview with the Guardian, while it is speculated that the decision came after aSunday newspaper threatened to reveal his relationship status.
“It was not my decision to make a big thing about coming out. People know I’m gay, but it’s not the first thing I’d say to anyone,” he said, before adding that the news is expected to create ‘ripples’ within the church.
Backing one of their own, a spokesperson of the Church of England in an official statement said, “The Church has said for some time that it would be unjust to exclude from consideration for the episcopate anyone seeking to live fully in conformity with the Church’s teaching on sexual ethics or other areas of personal life and discipline.”
“Whilst Bishop Nick’s appointment is notable in the gifts and talents that he brings to the episcopate, it is wholly consistent and unexceptional in other regards given the testing of that call by those responsible for the selection process in each case,” the spokesperson added.
