Gay Clergyman Will Appeal After Losing in Discrimination Case

English clergyman Jeremy Pemberton lost an employment tribunal last year against the Church of England. Last week, he was granted the right to appeal his case.

Pemberton was denied a position as a hospital chaplain in Nottinghamshire after marrying his partner, Laurence Cunnington.

Image via Facebook/Jeremy Pemberton

Last year the tribunal concluded that Pemberton was not discriminated against, a decision Pemberton has said he wants to challenge.

A hearing to review the decision is now set to take place.

“My application to appeal against the ET judgment has been accepted #justiceforjeremy,” the clergyman tweeted last Thursday.

Pemberton was stripped of his authority to officiate after marrying Cunnington in April 2014. As a result, he was unable to take a position as a bereavement manager for the Nottinghamshire-based Sherwood Forest hospital’s NHS foundation trust.

The clergyman claimed that the Church England’s stance on same-sex marriage breached the U.K. 2010 Equality Act.

But according to the 58-page ruling issued in November, the employment tribunal sided with the church and also dismissed Pemberton’s claim of harassment against the former acting bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rev. Richard Inwood.

Since the appeal was granted, Pemberton’s #justiceforjeremy hashtag has been employed by Twitter users to voice their support.

The subject of homosexuality and gay marriage has been the primary source of contention and discussion this year within the Church of England. In January, the Anglican Communion placed a temporary sanction on its American branch, the U.S. Episcopal Church, from key positions in their global fellowship due to conflicting views on gay marriage.

(H/T: Guardian)