Two Anglican priests who defied Church of England rules and entered a gay marriage are to stand for election to the Church's General Synod.
Canon Jeremy Pemberton, pictured, is currently awaiting the outcome of an employment tribunal against the Church after he was stopped from taking a job as a hospital chaplain because he was in a gay marriage.
He had his permission to officiate (PTO) as a priest revoked by a bishop in June 2014 and was therefore rejected for a job in Nottinghamshire.
Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain was the first vicar to reject the Church's rules and marry his same sex partner.
Both men are now standing for election to the General Synod, the Church's ruling body, also known as it's parliament.
The Daily Mail claims they are among several openly gay clergy and lay people hoping to win a seat on the Synod.
A Church of England spokesman told the newspaper it would be 'idle speculation' to comment on Synod elections until the result near the end of October.
The House of Bishops has ordered Anglican clergy in England not to enter gay marriages and says it would not be "appropriate conduct".
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Article by Antony Bushfield
Antony Bushfield is a multimedia journalist for Premier.