Canon Jeffrey John, Chancellor of Southwark Cathedral, to be suffragan (assistant) Bishop of Reading. His gifts are not in doubt, but: Canon John is gay. More than that, he is in a longstanding relationship with another priest, and he vowed to stay with his male partner of 27 years.

"I believe", he has written, "that there are sound arguments from scripture and tradition in favour of Christians accepting same-sex relationships, provided they are based on a personal covenant of lifelong faithfulness... I am a homosexual. I have been in this kind of covenant relationship since 1976 and will remain so. I regard this life-partnership as a gift and vocation from God."

Jeffrey John's 2003 appointment raised controversy. Canon Jeffrey John has announced that he intends to seek the permission of the Crown to withdraw his acceptance of the nomination to the suffragan See of Reading in the Diocese of Oxford. He has written to the Bishop of Oxford setting out his reasons.

On 19 April 2004, 10 Downing Street announced Dr John's appointment as Dean of St Albans. He was inducted on 2 July 2004. In August 2006, Dr John entered into a civil partnership with his long-term partner, the Rev. Grant Holmes. At the end of August 2008, speculation began that Dr John was one of the nominees for the post of Bishop of Bangor in Wales.