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| Bishop Richard surrounded by his Archdeacons Source: Facebook |
When one says 'I follow the dean' and another says 'I follow the bishop' the saga sounds familiar.
It is clear from comments received in response to my previous entry that some favour the dean's account, others remain loyal to the bishop. It will come as little surprise to regular readers that I favour neither. Both are slaves to the secular trends crippling the Church
Disappointed commentators who may have assumed that I have taken sides because their comments have not been published should note that 'anonymous' comments without a pseudonym are not published.
It is significant that ALL the Area Deans and Ministry Area Leaders in the Diocese of Monmouth have signed letters to the Archbishop in support of Bishop Richard.
ReplyDeleteIf so, send copies to Martin Shipton at Wales Online.
DeleteCopies will be sent to Martin Shipton
ReplyDeleteAB your view that slavery to the secular trends is crippling the church can only be reinforced when a High Sheriff and a Lord Lieutenant share exposure in the same photograph as the main actors in this sorry drama.
ReplyDeleteBest that they decline to appear in the future until or unless the C in W returns to first principles.
Spare a thought and a prayer for parishioners in the Diocese who are caught in the midst of the Monmouth Saga.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there was little joy in our church in Newport this morning as we reflected on the sad situation in which we find ourselves.
I have not used this site before but I wonder if there is anyone reading this blog who is able to convey our concerns directly to Archbishop John?
We do not understand why he is unable to re-instate our much loved Bishop.
If Bishop Richard does not return in the very near future we will vote with our feet, as will many others in the Diocese. We cannot tolerate the current situation for much longer and have no confidence in our Archdeacon.
He who expecteth little is seldom disappointed.
DeleteDon't bother placing any hope or faith in the Archbishop, he's as much use as a chocolate teapot!
You're right on the money there Subversive Canon.
DeleteShirley completely bottled dealing with the shit in Llandaff that has been repeatedly brought to his attention so it is odds-on that he will bungle the Monmouth shit too.
Spineless and ineffective will be his epitaph.
Can you not contact Archbishop yourself Newport Parishioner. Details are on CinW website .
DeleteConcerned Anglican
Concerned Anglican, if the C in W was a functional organisation that would be the proper way to do it. But the C in W is highly dysfunctional and the present saga amply demonstrates that.
DeleteAny letters to the Archbishop will be met with bland reassurances but nothing will happen. It seems that many Monmouth clergy have already written but to no effect. The C in W tries to stifle any concerns raised about its management.
The most useful courses of action are:
1) withhold your giving and encourage parishes to stop their Parish Share until this is all resolved;
2) send your concerns to the press and social media because this will cause the C in W much bad publicity. That is the only thing the C in W cares about.
For instance has anyone considered setting up a "Support Bishop Richard" Facebook page?
It seems to me that if one was going to move against one's bishop, which is the most serious of things, one would be convinced it was the last resort. You would also be sure 100% that the evidence against him/her was cast iron. It looks like the conspirators have failed to do so and must now do the honourable thing.
DeleteDon't hold your breath, look what happened to those broke their vows of confidence in the last Llandaff electoral college....
The more one hears about this latest spat the more one wonders if one is dealing with adults.
DeleteThank you for your interesting comments.
DeleteI understand that several clergy and lay people have already written to the Archbishop and been told that he cannot comment because there is an on-going confidential process (I don’t see how it can now be classified as “confidential” when it is being openly discussed throughout the Diocese). There is also a campaign in many parishes #Operation Lovebomb which is generating hundreds of letters of further support for Bishop Richard.
I don’t think that the Archbishop really appreciates the strength of feeling in support of Bishop Richard and the lack of support for the Archdeacons.
I will take the advice of The Honourable Schoolboy, by stopping my standing order to the PCC and writing a letter to the Western Mail.
Unfortunately I don’t think the conspirators are capable of acting as honourable adults so they are unlikely to do the right thing.
Any further suggestions are welcome.
When Mr T arrived at The CR, he was soon known as Sister Lister. This did not last long as, afterwards and since, he has been known as Forked Tonge.😎 .Can't think why Richard Pain appointed him. But, get a few liberals in the same sack and they will soon be trying to climb the greasy pole, bitching each other and betraying their former Catholic persuassion. Was not Shirley a member of SSC until promised red piping ?
ReplyDeleteSister Lister was not appointed by Bishop Pain but by his predecessor who had an interest in witchcraft and dabbled in exorcisms.
DeleteSorry, St Woolos' Pewstor. Got my facts wrong. X
ReplyDeleteAll is forgiven Merthyr Organist.
DeleteThe reality is that Sister Lister was in college with Dominic Walker.
It's entirely likely a case of a good pension-topper for an old chum.
PP I maybe repeating here, but how awful that this diocese is in such turmoil. Makes you wonder what will happen to this rudderless diocese. So who is in charge?
ReplyDeleteSince the Bishop has been incapacitated several clergy have left, retired or gone on long-term sick leave.
ReplyDeleteThe Archdeacons have abdicated responsibility for the ensuing chaos. There is no leadership. The outlook for the Diocese is dire.
PP Sounds awful hope the situ resolves itself soon.
ReplyDeleteDo not underestimate the lengths to which the Dean and the Archdeacon are prepared to go. If they have decided that they want the Bishop gone, nothing will stop them. They will hound him until he feels that he has no choice but to get out. They have form.
ReplyDeleteMartin
I fear that you are right Martin.
DeleteArchdeacon Jonathan is a bully and likes his own way.
I have experienced it firsthand and some of my colleagues have left the Diocese as a result of his behaviour and lack of compassion for their concerns.
I fear that you are right, Martin.
DeleteArchdeacon Williams is a bully and likes to get his own way.
I have experienced it and some of my colleagues have left the Diocese because of his behaviour and his lack of compassion for their concerns.
PP There are 3 ADs surely all 3 are not behind this situation. Bishop Richard has a good reputation its awful he is being trashed. At least the RDs/MLs if the letters have gone to the AB must have some credence and clout. Odd the other diocesan are silent.
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 conspirators - Archdeacon Jonathan Williams, Archdeacon Ambrose Mason and Dean Lister Tonge. They launched the attempted coup while the Bishop was on holiday in July. Their complaints were investigated for 3 months by an independent investigator (former judge and Chancellor) and the Bishop was exonerated. The Archbishop requested a mediation process but the 3 conspirators refused to cooperate, saying that they could not work with the Bishop.
DeleteIn the meantime several clergy have left the sinking ship with resignations from the Area Dean and Ministry Area leader of Monmouth, the Bishop’s Chaplain, the Bishop’s PA, the Director of Pioneer Ministry, 2 long serving House for Duty ministers and 2 other priests. A significant number in a few months in a small Diocese. These people were very allegiant to the Bishop but several had problems with the Archdeacons.
Monmouth Diocese has 6 Area Deaneries. 1 is currently vacant and 1 is suffering because of long-term illness. There has been no discussion among AD's or MALs regarding writing letters to the Archbishop, Martin Shipton or anyone else. Wisdom would suggest that before putting pen to paper we would need to know the facts and, it is obvious from he Western Mail article and this Blog that nobody has a clue.
DeleteLukas
So do tell us please Lukas.
DeleteWhat is your explanation for our Bishop's continuing absence?
Well, do we really know what has happened? So far, all is conjecture. The Dean has made it public about "erroneous report about me and the Archdeacons within the diocese". The Archbishop has not said why +Richard is not working. The Archdeacons are silent. I have not heard of any letter written by the Area Deans, Ministry Area Leaders or anyone else, for that matter. What is sad, is this continued speculation continues to damage an already deeply damaged Diocese and I would have expected the senior staff in this Diocese, together with the Archbishop to actually make a concrete decision for the sake of the Diocese. What on earth has any of this got to do with the Kingdom?
DeleteLukas
If the Monmouth Diocese is already deeply damaged then it is up to the Archbishop to extract his thumb from his backside and do something effective to resolve matters.
DeleteIf he won't then Bishop Pain should grow a pair, go back to work, put some stick about and remove his license from Tonge, Williams et al.
The alternative is to watch Monmouth go the way of Llandaff.
The Dean has told us that he has been mis-represented but he has not told us what he denies in the report.
DeleteDoes he deny that he asked for a meeting with the Archbishop to complain about Bishop Richard whilst he was on holiday?
Does he deny that he submitted a written statement to the Archbishop with specific complaints about his Bishop.
Does he deny that there was an independent investigation in which he gave evidence?
Does he deny that the investigation exonerated the Bishop?
Does he deny that he didn’t accept the conclusion of the investigation?
Does he deny that he refused to accept the Archbishop’s request for mediation?
If so, let him speak.
And maybe he would like to have an interview with Martin Shipton, to put the record straight.
PP. What a sad state Mon is now in. Perhaps the honourable thing to do is to remove the 3 conspirators from office and reinstate the Bishop. Whoever is the ABs protem lead in Mon certainly has a very difficult job. Surely the facts as Lukas suggests need to know to all pewsiters and clergy.
ReplyDeleteMuch discussion, prayer and heart searching has taken place between the clergy in the Diocese. A copy of the letter from the 6 current Area Deans (Mark Soady, Tim Clements, John Connell, Mark Owen, Justin Groves and Jeremy Harris) and Ministry Area Leaders has been sent by my colleague to Wales Online for the attention of Martin Shipton.
ReplyDeleteThere is no protein lead in Mon.
It would be interesting to know just how many unforeseen resignations, early retirements, stress-related illnesses and unexpected moves, both of clergy and lay officers, have happened in the diocese since the unholy alliance of the Dean and Archdeacon Jonathan was first formed, compared to, say, the six years beforehand. Could anybody with access to this information compile a comparative list? (And that is not even taking into account the number of worshippers at the cathedral who have chosen to go elsewhere. This is a great number.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, do the Dean and Archdeacons have the lawful right to keep the exonerated Bishop out simply by saying that they cannot work with him? Has the Bishop ever had people saying that about him before in his lengthy ministry in the diocese? Besides, if I decided that I could not work with my boss,I know who would be out of a job, and it wouldn't be my boss..
Two and two need to be put together here, and quickly.
Martin
Martin, logically one would think that the Dean and Archdeacons do not have the power to prevent Bishop Richard from returning to his post. However past dealings with the C in W suggest they follow neither logic nor the law when they think they can get away with it.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that others on the Bench, perhaps with prior connections to parties involved in the coup, are also whispering in the Archbishop's ear?
As an outsider with an interest in the Church in Wales and judging by the above comments, the diocese of Monmouth seems to me to resemble nothing more than "a nest of vipers" Looks like the oculus episcopi could do with a poke in the eye with a sharp stick or even perhaps a kick up the ......
ReplyDelete