John Perumbalath

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend

| name = John Perumbalath

image = Installation 2 (2).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Perumbalath in 2018

| church = Church of England

| diocese = Liverpool

| term = 2023–2025

| predecessor = Paul Bayes

| successor =

| other_post =

| previous_post = {{plain list|

Bishop of Bradwell (2018–2023)
Chairman, Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC 2015–2018)
Archdeacon of Barking (2013–2018)
Proctor in Convocation (2010–2013 & 2015–2018) }}

| ordination = 1994 (deacon)
1995 (priest)

| ordained_by = Dinesh Chandra Gorai

| consecration = 3 July 2018

| consecrated_by = Justin Welby

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|23 May 1966}}

| birth_place = Kerala, India

| religion = Anglican

| residence = London

| education =

}}

John Perumbalath (born 23 May 1966) is a British retired Anglican bishop. He became Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool in January 2023. He had previously been Archdeacon of Barking (2013–2018) and the area Bishop of Bradwell (2018–2023), both in the Diocese of Chelmsford.

Early life and education

Perumbalath was born on 23 May 1966 in Mananthavady in the south Indian state of Kerala.{{Crockford | surname = Perumbalath| forenames = John| id = 22882| accessed = 23 June 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishsouthindians.co.uk/first-indian-to-hold-a-senior-post-in-church-of-england/|title=First Indian to Hold a Senior Post in Church of England {{!}}|website=www.britishsouthindians.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-09}} He grew up in the Syrian Christians of India community. He obtained his first university degree from Calicut University, studying at St Mary's College, Sulthan Bathery. He was a seminarian at the Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1990.{{cite news |last1=Pioneer |first1=The |title=Indian-origin archdeacon appointed Bishop of Bradwell in UK |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/india-abroad/indian-origin-archdeacon-appointed-bishop-of-bradwell-in-uk.html |access-date=31 January 2025 |work=The Pioneer |date=11 March 2018 |language=en}}'PERUMBALATH, John', Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, Nov 2014 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U258758, accessed 30 May 2015] He later studied at the North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies, Calcutta/Serampore (West Bengal) where he pursued postgraduate research in the New Testament. In 1993, he was awarded a Master of Arts (MA) degree by Osmania University and a Master of Theology (MTh) degree by Serampore College.{{Crockford| surname = Perumbalath | forenames = John | id = 22882 | accessed = 31 January 2025}} He pursued doctoral research in hermeneutics under Judith Lieu at King's College London from 2001 to 2004 but discontinued and later submitted the dissertation for a PhD from North-West University, South Africa, in 2007.{{cite thesis |last= Perumbalath |first= John |date= 2007 |title= Confident and imaginative: scripture & hermeneutic in the Johannine passion narrative and today |degree= PhD |publisher= North-West University |url= http://hdl.handle.net/10394/1592 |accessdate= 31 January 2025}} His doctoral thesis was titled "Confident and imaginative: scripture & hermeneutic in the Johannine passion narrative and today" and was undertaken within a post-liberal theological framework.

Career

Perumbalath worked among university students as a staff worker of the Evangelical Union for two years in his home state of Kerala before training for ordination. Following his post-graduate research, he joined the faculty of Serampore College as a lecturer in New Testament. He was ordained in the Church of North India as a deacon in 1994 and priest in 1995 for the Diocese of Calcutta. After a short curacy at St John's Church, Calcutta, in 1995 he was appointed vicar of St James' Church, Calcutta.

After moving to the UK in 2001, he joined the Church of England and served at St George's Church, Beckenham, Diocese of Rochester as an associate rector from 2002 to 2005.{{cite web |title=Liverpool, Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Dr John Perumbalath) (born 1966) |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U258758 |website=Who's Who 2024 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=31 January 2025 |language=en |date=1 December 2023}} He was then team vicar of the benefice of Northfleet and Rosherville (2005–2008) and vicar of All Saints, Perry Street, Northfleet (2008–2013). From 2008 to 2013, he was the chair of the North Kent Council for Inter-faith Relations and also the Diocese of Rochester's urban adviser and link officer for the Church Urban Fund.

In 2013, he was appointed as Archdeacon of Barking, a newly created post, in the Diocese of Chelmsford.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stephencottrell.org/sermons/article/sermon-for-the-collation-of-robin-king-mina-smallman-and-john-perumbalath-a|title=Sermon for the Collation of Robin King, Mina Smallman and John Perumbalath as Archdeacons {{!}} Bishop Stephen|website=www.stephencottrell.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-09}}{{cite web |title=Three new Archdeacons appointed |url=http://www.stjohnsparishchurch.org/threenewarchdeaconsappointed.htm |website=www.stjohnsparishchurch.org |publisher=St John's Church |access-date=31 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110444/http://www.stjohnsparishchurch.org/threenewarchdeaconsappointed.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015}} He was collated as archdeacon on 15 September 2013 with the oversight of the Anglican churches in the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and Havering.{{Cite news|url=http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/rev_dr_john_perumbalath_appointed_first_archdeacon_of_barking_covering_havering_and_barking_and_dagenham_1_2295243|title=Rev Dr John Perumbalath appointed first Archdeacon of Barking, covering Havering and Barking and Dagenham|last=Alwakeel|first=Ramzy|work=Romford Recorder|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en|archive-date=30 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530121126/http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/rev_dr_john_perumbalath_appointed_first_archdeacon_of_barking_covering_havering_and_barking_and_dagenham_1_2295243|url-status=dead}}[http://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/areas-and-bishops/archdeacons/barking-area Diocese of Chelmsford website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601183905/http://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/areas-and-bishops/archdeacons/barking-area |date=2015-06-01 }} During this time he chaired the Church of England's Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEC), chaired the London Churches Refugee Network and was a member of the Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England.

=Episcopal ministry=

On 9 March 2018, Perumbalath was announced as the next Bishop of Bradwell, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chelmsford.{{cite web |title=Nomination of Suffragan Bishop of Bradwell: 9 March 2018 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nomination-of-suffragan-bishop-of-bradwell-9-march-2018 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=en |date=9 March 2018}}{{cite web |title=New Bishop of Bradwell: 'God wants Essex to flourish' |url=http://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/article/new-bishop-of-bradwell-god-wants-essex-to-flourish |website=www.chelmsford.anglican.org |publisher=The Diocese of Chelmsford |access-date=14 December 2023 |date=9 March 2018}} He was consecrated as bishop by Archbishop Justin Welby on 3 July 2018 at St Paul's Cathedral,{{Cite tweet |author=Mark Davies |user=BishMiddleton |number=1014131347475005440 |title=Overjoyed to be at St Paul's Cathedral this morning for the Ordination & Consecration of the Bishops of Bradwell, Bristol & Tonbridge. +John Bradwell has been a great Chair of CMEAC & it was good to be with #CMEAC colleagues to share in the joy of today.}} and was installed at Chelmsford Cathedral on 22 July.

On 18 October 2022, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Queen Elizabeth II had accepted Perumbalath's nomination as the next Bishop of Liverpool.{{cite web |title=Appointment of Bishop of Liverpool: 18 October 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-bishop-of-liverpool-18-october-2022 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=en |date=18 October 2022}} On 25 November 2022, he was elected by the college of canons of Liverpool Cathedral to become the next Bishop of Liverpool.{{Cite tweet |author=Liverpool Cathedral |author-link=Liverpool Cathedral |user=LivCathedral |number=1596217864565841920 |date=25 November 2022 |title=The College of Canons met tonight to formally elect... |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201225302/https://twitter.com/LivCathedral/status/1596217864565841920 |archive-date=1 December 2022 }} The confirmation of his election – by which he legally took up the see of Liverpool – was on 20 January 2023 at York Minster.{{cite web |website=Archbishop of York |title=Diary (January 2023) |url=https://www.archbishopofyork.org/archbishop-york/diary |date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103220951/https://www.archbishopofyork.org/archbishop-york/diary |archive-date=3 January 2023 |access-date=4 January 2023 |url-status=live }} He was enthroned in the Liverpool Cathedral on 22 April 2023.{{cite web |title=Installation of Bishop John Perumbalath |url=https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/events-calendar/installation-of-bishop-john-perumbalath/ |website=Liverpool Cathedral |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=en |date=22 April 2023}}

Perumbalath chairs the council of the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, and serves on the Clergy Discipline Commission of the Church of England. He also chairs the Churches Refugee Network for Britain and Ireland, CTBI. He is the Church of England's Lead Bishop for Porvoo Communion of churches (group of Lutheran churches in Europe) and is on the communion-wide advisory group of the USPG, an Anglican mission society.

= Allegations and resignation=

In January 2025, it became public that he had been accused by two women of sexual harassment,{{cite news |last1=Whittingham |first1=Stewart |last2=Mullen |first2=Tom |title=Bishop of Liverpool denies sex assault allegations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg4dw5nnvxo |access-date=29 January 2025 |publisher=BBC News |date=28 January 2025}}{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/bishop-of-liverpool-under-pressure-to-quit-over-sexual-misconduct-allegations | title=Bishop of Liverpool under pressure to quit over sexual misconduct allegations | work=The Guardian | date=29 January 2025 | last1=Sherwood | first1=Harriet | last2=Abdul | first2=Geneva }} following a broadcast by Channel 4 News.{{cite web |last1=Newman |first1=Cathy |title=Exclusive: Church Abuse Scandal: Bishop accuses bishop of sexual harassment |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-church-abuse-scandal-bishop-accuses-bishop-of-sexual-harassment |website=Channel 4 News |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=29 January 2025}} One woman alleged that he had forcibly kissed her and groped her while they were on a diocesan away day in 2019, which she then reported to an archdeacon.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Madeleine |title=Bishop of Liverpool denies allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/31-january/news/uk/bishop-of-liverpool-denies-allegations |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Church Times |date=28 January 2025}} He was interviewed by police in March 2024 in relation to this accusation, but no further action was taken. The National Safeguarding Team had investigated the allegation in 2023 and had found it unsubstantiated. The other woman, later revealed to be Bev Mason, the Bishop of Warrington in the diocese of Liverpool, reported to senior clergy and the Archbishop of York in 2023 that she had been sexually harassed by Perumbalath. This was passed on to the National Safeguarding Team which concluded there was no safeguarding concern. Her complaint of misconduct was not taken further, as this was outside the 12-month limitation period under the Clergy Conduct Measure.{{cite news |last1=Eastham |first1=Janet |title=Bishop of Warrington made sexual harassment claim against Bishop of Liverpool |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/30/bishop-of-liverpool-quits-john-perumbalath/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 January 2025}}

Perumbalath publicly denied the allegations on 28 January 2025, saying "I don't believe I have done anything wrong."{{cite web |last1=Abbott |first1=Ryan |title=Statement from the Bishop of Liverpool |url=https://liverpoolcofe.org/statement-from-the-bishop-of-liverpool-2/ |website=Diocese of Liverpool |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=28 January 2025}} The following day, senior members of the Diocese of Liverpool publicly called for him to "step aside from all ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool" until the allegations made by the female bishop had been fully investigated.{{cite web |title=A statement from Senior Leadership of the Diocese of Liverpool |url=https://liverpoolcofe.org/a-statement-from-senior-leadership-of-the-diocese-of-liverpool/ |website=Diocese of Liverpool |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=29 January 2025}} On 30 January, he announced that he would "retire from active ministry in the Church of England"{{cite news |last1=Eastham |first1=Janet |title=Bishop of Liverpool quits over sex harassment claims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/30/bishop-of-liverpool-quits-john-perumbalath/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 January 2025}}{{cite web |title=Bishop of Liverpool retires after sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6gze93mpno |website=BBC News |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=30 January 2025}} – in practice, he would "step back" with immediate effect, but resign his see at a later date.{{cite web |last1=Abbott |first1=Ryan |title=Retirement of the Bishop of Liverpool |url=https://liverpoolcofe.org/retirement-of-the-bishop-of-liverpool/ |website=Diocese of Liverpool |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=30 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130154838/https://liverpoolcofe.org/retirement-of-the-bishop-of-liverpool/ |archive-date=30 January 2025 }} He stated that this was caused by the "rush to judgment and my trial by media (be that social or broadcast) has made my position untenable" and that it "is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability".

Theological positions

Perumbalath is influenced by Oriental Orthodox, evangelical and Anglo-Catholic traditions, and follows a Benedictine framework for spirituality. He was born in the ancient Syrian Christian community in Kerala and trained for ordination at Union Biblical Seminary, a leading evangelical training college in India.

Perumbalath affirms the ordained ministry of women and belongs broadly to the inclusive catholic tradition within the Church of England. Theologically he belongs to the post-critical tradition of theology with heavy influence of Hans Frei, George Lindbeck and Walter Brueggemann.