The Reverend John Parker, who was vicar of two Church of England parishes and governor of a church primary school, resigned from his posts after disagreeing with the school’s transgender training for children and support for a student’s gender transition. The Mermaids, a lobby group for transgender training, was brought in without consulting parents and caregivers. 

Prior to his resignation, Parker made his convictions about sexuality and gender identity clear to school leaders. He argued that the Church of England primary school in the Diocese of Chelmsford was not upholding its responsibility to provide a Bible-based Christian environment due to its unequivocal support of a young student’s transgenderism.

Parker published a statement on May 31 explaining how the situation disregarded other children and parents in the school and stating that Bishop Stephen Cottrell had told him that “my Biblical views on sexuality were not welcome in the Church of England and that I ‘could leave.’” 

“I had no choice but to resign,” said Parker after he was no longer able to uphold the integrity of the school or his own convictions in the circumstance. 

Photo: Alamy.com