Surviving Church Conflict

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Prof.Percy had also urged that his complaints process against William Nye be widened to enable other victims, survivors, stakeholders and whistleblowers to be considered within the same process, not least in case common themes should emerge. He was informed that he would, alone, be required to collate such evidence and bring them within the terms of reference (drawn up by Church House). Just imagine, for a moment, any victim of abuse (e.g., involving a known perpetrator such as Jimmy Savile) being told by the BBC or the Police that as the complainant, they must co-ordinate the evidence of all the victims.

For these reasons we have engaged in creative projects designed and delivered by those with lived experience of abuse, those who minister to them, and others in our communities who support this vital work.” When you read the answer to the Question, you might like to ask your Diocesan Bishop if s/he is aware of the details and what they are doing to instigate a proper response or investigation. I very specifically do not name anyone. This is yet another chapter in a bizarre saga. Each one is characterised by an unusual level of incompetence to the point of farce, if it weren’t so concerning. IICSA cannot fail to have noticed that they too were ignored by the Church of England. I hope that they make their views known to policymakers. Revd Hayns may be one of those subject to investigation by a full and proper Christ Church Review: it is not nice, especially when one emerges the other end with the allegations unsustained, but nevertheless harmed.

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ES But I’m not quite sure what your answer is on the position of Meg Munn. Do you think she should remain, or do you think she should withdraw, or do you think you should withdraw her hiring? What do you think should happen about her?

Following the translation of Bishop John Perumbalath to the See of Liverpool from the See of Bradwell, there is now a vacancy for a southern suffragan in the House of Bishops. The note from Lambeth Palace that states they now know they are “being played” by the lawyers, PR and complainants (June 2020). It will be noted that the bishop admits (i) that the process for appointing Meg Munn had been handled had “not been right”, and (ii) that the issue of her chairing the ISB was “not yet resolved”, adding that she hoped progress could be made on that “in the next week or two.” That was nearly 4 weeks ago now and there has been no announced resolution of the issue, so it appears that Meg is still in post. I once had a rather naughty antique dealer friend (think Lovejoy), who used to defend his wheeler-dealing trading by saying: “ Truth is a precious commodity – we must use it sparingly”. When I read and listen to many of the Replies to our Questions at Synod, I often wonder why those answering us have so much to say yet are so evasive and sparing with the truth. At a time when trust and confidence in the leadership has never been lower, truth and delivery on promises looks so problematic.clergy and lay members of church bodies who need to see, hear and respond well to those who have experienced trauma and abuse in the church

A related question: who approached the five suffragan bishops who failed to be elected in 2021 to ask/persuade them ‘graciously’ to step aside? Was that William Nye or, if not him, who? The same church lawyers setting up the Kate Wood investigation, and the refusal of those driving the campaign against the Dean to admit that these lawyers had set Wood’s Terms of Reference. (October 2020). When Malcolm Brown was asked by the Church to respond to the IICSA recommendations (not the NST), survivors were given about two days to review his final draft report. I suggested that it shouldn’t take years to work out what would be required for independent oversight of safeguarding. All that was required was to set up a properly-resourced independent charitable foundation with a board of trustees to employ and supervise people with expertise in CofE safeguarding. And to give them authority to investigate allegations and to act against those abusing their positions within the Church. I for one pray that Jasvinder & Steve will not be provoked into resigning, tempting though that must be to them

In the circumstances, surely none of the existing Christ Church trustees should have been considered for appointment as Dean to succeed Martyn Percy, even on an interim basis. If an appointment was to be made, ahead of Dominic Grieve KC’s report and the implementation of any changes he may recommend to the governance of the college, an outsider should have been appointed, as often happens these days in a benefice where there has been division, and/or other historic problematic issues, when an interim priest-in-charge is appointed, both to seek to heal the divisions and oversee any necessary changes ahead of the appointment of a successor incumbent. A similar level of insight and expertise at strategic level will be needed in countering the abuse of charitable status of many churches, for example, indeed more so, because so many factors act in resistance to change. Another crisis awaits the new Dean. At the Cathedral the clergy are now severely depleted since the departure of the Sub-Dean at the end of last year. A replacement Sub-Dean is urgently needed, but it is unclear whether the post will be attractive to able applicants. The legacy of tension at the College and Cathedral does not suddenly disappear. Richard Peers, the Sub-Dean left Oxford after barely two years in post with some unresolved disciplinary issues hanging over him. These were in connection with his alleged activities seeking to destroy the Dean. All the bishops in the Church in Wales knew about the cloud hanging over their new Dean of Llandaff, yet this appointment was still allowed to go ahead. Promoting individuals is one ploy that the Church of England uses to resolve disciplinary problems. We certainly hope to see some clearing of the air at Oxford Cathedral before new staff are appointed there. Kate Wood’s denial that she ever approved these Risk Assessment, and her written request to have her name removed from the bogus documents. (November 2020). Apologies for the length of the following which is offered (I hope) as providing a clearer picture of the position of the Diocese of Oxford and the Bishop in relation to the future respective positions of the Dean and Bishop. These were the Diocese’s proposed responses (subject to approval by the Oxford Diocesan Synod) in November 2022 to the governance review, emphasising the Dean’s Cathedral role being independent of the Governing Body, unlike as at present: