Less than four months after being dismissed from the Anglican Catholic Church following what looked like a Nazi salute, Rev Calvin Robinson has received a temporary license to serve as a priest again, this time from the Reformed Episcopal Church, a small Anglican body in the U.S.

Rev Calvin, a British-born priest living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, lost his license in January when he appeared to use a nazi salute during a speech at the National Pro-Life Summit.  Soon after that, the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) revoked his license, ending his role as rector of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Grand Rapids.

He has since apologised for the gesture.

At the time, the ACC defended its decision to remove the priest, saying it was not based on a single gesture but on repeated concerns about his political activism and controversial statements, including ones allegedly antisemitic in nature. They stated that Rev Calvin had been warned multiple times to separate his ministry from his political persona.

As a former political commentator who appeared on TV programmes such as GB News, the 39-year-old is known for his outspoken views against feminism and liberal theology. He does not believe in the ordination of women in the Church and has spoken about feminism as a 'cancer'.

This week, the Most Rev Ray Sutton, presiding bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), issued Robinson a one-year license, which means he'll be allowed to continue leading St. Paul’s. The REC is part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), which separated from the Episcopal Church in 2009. St. Paul’s also formally disaffiliated from the ACC earlier in May and is now under Sutton’s provisional oversight.

Speaking to Religion News Service Rev Calvin said he was grateful for the opportunity, stating that Sutton had provided him with "Episcopal Sanctuary" and that the church could continue its mission in Grand Rapids.

However, not everyone in ACNA supports the move. Archbishop Steve Wood voiced concern about the priest's public image, saying: “I am concerned to have the Anglican Church of North America affiliated with a leader whose public comments and persona consistently fail to exhibit the love and grace of Jesus Christ.”

In response, Rev Calvin said he respects ACNA and looks forward to getting to know Archbishop Wood. He emphasised that ACNA needs strong leadership rooted in traditional Anglican values.