I first met the Rev Malcolm Johnson in 1985. He was exceptional – a clergyman who affirmed gay friendships, was deeply committed to his church’s work with homeless people and of deep personal faith. At the time, I was tiptoeing around God, and was astounded when Malcolm told me that Jesus Christ is alive today.
The broadsheet papers were generally supportive of Malcolm’s contribution to the 1987 debate at General Synod, and I phoned afterwards to thank him. He replied that it would not have been possible to debate human sexuality at synod even 20 years previously, and while he was prepared to put his head above the parapet he hoped that it wouldn’t be pecked off.
My guess is that Malcolm was passed over for senior roles, no matter his suitability for them, colleagues’ respect and the work he had done, because he openly affirmed gay and lesbian people.
