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| The bishops of Bangor, St Davids, Monmouth, Swansea & Brecon (Archbishop), St Asaph and Llandaff . Source: Church in Wales |
As the Monmouth diocese saga drags on, the position of the bench
of bishops and the bishop of Monmouth in particular is becoming increasingly
untenable.
‘Show people the power of our faith’ said the Archbishop of Wales at his enthronement (pictured)
when he challenged churches to rehabilitate and refresh how they explained
the Gospel message. But being a Christian, he said, was not about just going to church.
According to the archbishop, "young people would high-five
the prophet Job and queue for selfies with Jesus if they properly understood
Christianity".
Referring to the witness of young people he observed: "They are keenly aware of the need for social and economic justice, the stewardship of creation, and equality of opportunity; they are equally aware of the need for a society free from any form of prejudice rooted in anything which is part of the individual identity, gender, race, origin, religion or orientation of anyone."
Referring to the witness of young people he observed: "They are keenly aware of the need for social and economic justice, the stewardship of creation, and equality of opportunity; they are equally aware of the need for a society free from any form of prejudice rooted in anything which is part of the individual identity, gender, race, origin, religion or orientation of anyone."
The 'progressives' gospel.
Generally young people no longer go to church. Consequently the average age in dwindling congregations is often around 70 with few if any families left to provide continuity. The Church has become irrelevant to society.
Generally young people no longer go to church. Consequently the average age in dwindling congregations is often around 70 with few if any families left to provide continuity. The Church has become irrelevant to society.
The message reaching the people is not one of faith
but one of impotence.
A recent article in the South Wales Argus, Bishop of Monmouth Richard Pain has not carried out official work for six months, was met with complete indifference and resulted in only a few derogatory comments about bishops and the Church.
The article appeared in the Argus after "Parishioners" raised "serious concerns about what is going on within the Diocese of Monmouth."
Bishop Pain's supporters want him to be reinstated in apparent ignorance of the nature of the complaints made against him.
A recent article in the South Wales Argus, Bishop of Monmouth Richard Pain has not carried out official work for six months, was met with complete indifference and resulted in only a few derogatory comments about bishops and the Church.
The article appeared in the Argus after "Parishioners" raised "serious concerns about what is going on within the Diocese of Monmouth."
Bishop Pain's supporters want him to be reinstated in apparent ignorance of the nature of the complaints made against him.
Contrary to the views of sources who have remained silent, the bishop has been eulogised with threats by his supporters to withhold funds due to the diocese unless the bishop returns to duties, thus prejudging the outcome of a mediation process.
Of one thing we can be sure. The departure of the bench of bishops
from the true Gospel
message has rendered their position as ambassadors for Christ completely untenable.
Yes the usual anonymous despicable comments under the South Wales Argus article. The same happened after the death of Father Jeremy Winston. I repeatedly asked the editor to remove some nasty anonymous comments but she refused.
ReplyDeleteCymraes yn Lloegr
Was this the last time +Monmouth was photographed working before being stabbed in the back by Sister Lister and his archdeacons?
ReplyDeleteNo LG, there are later photographs, eg this which caused considerable concern at the time https://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2018/06/petertide-caption.html
ReplyDeleteRightly so, though not (quite) a hanging offence.
DeleteWhen I was in Monmouth diocese very nearly fifty years ago, I recall hearing lurid tales of the notoriously sour relationship between Bishop Alfred Monahan, bishop during the war years, and Dean John Phillips whom Monahan inherited on his election as bishop.
ReplyDeleteThe tale told to me was that when the Bishop preached in the Cathedral, the Dean would routinely take the first opportunity that he could contrive to publicly 'correct' his bishop's 'errors' when he next preached. The Bishop ultimately responded by deserting St Woolos altogether, and moving his episcopal 'cadair' to St Mary's, Monmouth, where he'd been vicar and archdeacon prior to his election. His defenders seem to have maintained that it was after all quite appropriate for the Bishop of Monmouth to have his seat at Monmouth!
'What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun'. Eccleseastes 1:9!
I hear of similar goings-on in the diocese of St. Ogg's. Tell it not in Gath but apparently Bishop Cuthbert Heaver doesn't always hit it off nor see eye-to-eye with Dean Lionel Pugh-Critchley! Now, there's a thing!
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing about Monmouth. The same thing was going on in Bangor several years ago. The then-Dean, Cyanide Sue (aided and abetted by her co-conspirator, the Lavatory Attendant - not that he was prepared to put his head above the parapet of course), attempted a similar coup on Andy Crap. There was complete dysfunction among the senior staff, which involved the former Archdeacon of Bangor (the one that's now an archdeacon in Surrey) having a chunk of time off work with stress and his eventual departure. Crap survived because, surprise, surprise, Barry the Golfer was still in office, and spared no expense in mobilising M'learned Friend to save the arse of the stooge he imposed on Bangor via the dodgy electoral college in 2008 (when, interestingly, he was aided and abetted by Cyanide Sue). The Golfer's lawyers came up with counter disciplinary charges against her (not difficult given her long track record of bullying). She cleared off as well and, once safely in a new job, decided to kick Crap where it hurts with a constructive dismissal claim, which was settled with the once-obligatory non-disclosure agreement so favoured by the Golfer (cf Janet Henderson).
ReplyDeleteNow that the Golfer no longer has the keys to Llys Esgob in Llandaff and has lost the 'Cambrensis' bit of his signature, things are different, and Shirley seems less inclined to ride to Richard Pain's rescue. Don't forget that Richard Pain was very much a Barry-Approved election (let the reader understand) and maybe the chickens of discontent are coming home to roost. For all Shirley's banging of the 'equality' drum, there's much about Barry Morgan's modus operandi that he thoroughly dislikes.
But Lister Tongue has form, too. Mention his name in the Community of the Resurrection, where he proved a less than companionable member of the community in the 1980s (when Jonathan Williams, one of the Monmouth archdeacons, trained at the College of the Resurrection) and you will get a litany of stories about his inability to compromise or accommodate his preferences to the needs of the greater whole, and his belief that he is unchallengeable, as well as examples of self-regarding arrogance. I am reliably informed that we should not be surprised that, despite the Bishop being cleared of disciplinary allegations, Lister Tongue continues to dispute the findings and is sharpening the knife. I am hearing the language of bullying sticking to this Dean, too. Ironic, given his public financial support for Martyn Percy plight at Christ Church, Oxford.
Mediation is all very well, but it does depend on all parties agreeing to it, and accepting a resolution. That doesn't sound very Lister-like. Meanwhile, the Church in Wales is haemorrhaging, and this self-serving episode by the Monmouth senior staff can only hasten the onset of institutional rigormortis. Nice work you're all doing over there, boys!
Perhaps that goes some way to explain fairly recent reports in the secular press reporting that Bangor city is critically short of Anglican clergyfolk and that by now there's no one fluent in Welsh. I recall clergy 'situations vacant' advertisements proudly proclaiming that their parish was a 'happy sphere'. You'd certainly pause for thought before you committed yourself to one that appeared not to be.
DeleteWhen there was a load of argy-bargy in Lincoln in the 1990s (in-fighting among the cathedral chapter) the then-Bishop of Lincoln, genial Bob Hardy, refused to step foot in the cathedral until the Dean resigned. Eventually he did. Now, in Monmouth, it seems the boot is on the other foot.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't get is this. If the Bishop has been duly elected and consecrated, and not found (by due process) to have acted in a manner unbecoming, why doesn't he simply go back to work and get on with the ministry he has been called to? And why doesn't the Dean of Newport cathedral, and any other disaffected entities, simply bugger off and find another job if they don't like it?
By continuing with this charade, they are depriving the Diocese of Monmouth of episcopal ministry, and adding to the Church's disrepute. God knows, the Church in Wales is enough of a laughing stock without Lister and his mates launching a remake of the Barchester Chronicles. At the end of the day, the foot soldiers will not thank a bunch of supercilious and self-important twerps like archdeacons and deans for derailing the reputation of the Church they are supporting via the collection plate. Withholding quota sounds like a good idea. Nothing like a bit of negativity on the balance sheet to bring them to their senses!
Shirley needs to get her act together!
ReplyDeleteJust because +Richard has been found not to be acting in a manner unbecoming, it doesn't mean that he has not done anything wrong. If he is innocent then where is he? Why hasn't he gone back to his office? why hasn't he called Sister Lister and the two Archdeacons involved in this and told them to go forth and multiply? If he feels he has the support of the Diocesan Clergy why isn't he doing this? and why isn't Shirley pulling her crosier from her backside and actually ending this incredibly destructive period in the life of our lovely Diocese. Whatever you say about ++Barry (and I am no fan) he would have sorted all this out ages ago.
No one should confuse meekness with weakness; and the meak +Richard should not be weak. Rise up man or go.
Better still, lets have a fresh start. Let the retired Canon's Cale, Edwards and Pippen be forced back into temporary leadership of the Diocese and reset the direction of this failing and falling place. At least we will have a wonderful mix of dignity, knowledge, strength and pastoral care, sadly absent from Monmouth even before the Three Little Maids decided to stab +R.
Lukas.
One of the frustrating aspects of Mediation, especially for those of us who want a quick resolution in the Diocese, is that it takes time and has to be confidential. That inevitably leaves a vacuum (which nature and readers of AB abhor!). Mediation is not rolling 24/7 news-friendly (to use the kind of jargon that is de rigeur in the sharp CinW HQ in the docks), and the absence of information inevitably leads to all kinds of speculation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the Archbishop is showing poor leadership, and by leaving the Diocese in a state of flux, he is compounding the problem. Before Christmas he should have issued a brief statement, without compromising confidentiality or expressing a view on the circumstances. In the absence of any acknowledgement that there is a problem, and being seen to be on the rebound from media interest, people are left to speculate. This is not good for morale, especially among people who are trying to keep the show on the road in the parishes. And while I wouldn't trust Anna Morrell to put out an accurate media statement about a Mothers' Union jam-making competition, I do know that the Archbishop has - just - enough legal and diplomatic intelligence to do this, without compromising any mediation process, and enabling the poor bl**dy infantry to feel that they matter.
Another part of the problem, of course, is that Barry Morgan was such a controlling micro-manager that, as soon as he left, there was another vacuum. The Bench is still trying to find its collective feet, as well as the Archbishop trying to forge an approach that is different from the previous regime. The fact that the Bench is dominated by Morgan clones (Bangor, St Davids, Llanelwy, and Monmouth) means that this is not easily achieved quickly. What a total shambles is Morgan's legacy!
Not only was Richard Pain a Barry-Approved election, as John Mason Neale rightly states; but as an archive photo of the class of 1983 in the late-lamented St Michael's College, Llandaff, recently posted on this esteemed organ, shows both Shirley and Pain were contemporaries. My guess is that +Richard was never part of +Shirley's coterie. Pain on the front row, and Davies with the 'usual suspects' on the back row gives you an idea of the distance then, as well as now.
ReplyDeletehttps://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2018/09/from-hat-trick-to-three-card-trick.html
ReplyDeletePP. The longer the saga goes on the harder it will be for all concerned. Be easier to put +Dominic back protem, or Archdeacon Sue just to stable the ship.
ReplyDeleteArchdeacon Sue? Stable the ship? What planet? Talk about withdrawing into the realms of fantasy!
ReplyDeleteSeptic Sue would be the kiss of death.
DeleteMy experience within the Anglican province of Wales is distant and decidedly detached by now, but as I read through the contributions on this blog it seems pretty obvious that many if not most posters associate many if not most of the perceived afflictions of contemporary Welsh Anglicanism with the reign of Archbishop Barry Morgan.
ReplyDeleteI never met the man, but he was around in my day - though never anywhere near me! - and I still remember the context in which I first heard of him. Some readers may remember 'the Welsh Churchman' which, fifty years ago, was the Welsh Province's own in-house church magazine insert. When I first encountered it I thought it was one of the best publications of its sort that I'd seen: interesting, sometimes challenging, often thought-provoking, practically spiritual yet, above all, always written in the sort of everyday language readily comprehended by tha average Gwyn and Gwen in a Welsh Anglican pew. I don't now recall the name of the editor at that time, but I do remember that he was rector of the Cymer Afan rectorial benefice outside Port Talbot, which perhaps explains his facility for pitching to an audience of ordinary Christians in ordinary parishes.
However the time came when the rector of Cymer Afan resigned the editorship and we learned that the new editor was to be a certain Barry Morgan, Anglican chaplain to UCNW in Bangor. The difference was swiftly apparent: 'the Welsh Churchman' swiftly morphed into a publication largely dealing, often in pretty abstruse language, with topics pretty remote from the experience, interests and concerns of your average Anglican Christian in your average Welsh parish, and, it seemed, increasingly peripheral to the Christian faith as well.
In the end we simply stopped using 'the Welsh Churchman', and looked for a magazine insert more fit for purpose. In retrospect, maybe that was an early sign of things to come.
The Bishops' increasingly untenable position may be directly attributed to their insipid intellectual and theological assertions. I shall not refer to intellectual and theological proclivities at this juncture - let the reader decide this issue. +Wyn, the LAST Bishop of St Davids was the only member of the College to lend both intellectual gravitas and theological exertion to the 'College'. It is interesting to note which Bishops have either an LLM or an LLB. The emphasis has become a synthesis of destructive nomianism and political acumen at the expense of a proper synthesis of Ecclesiology, Pneumatology and Christology. Sadly, the declining and irreversible statistics (given that the systems dynamic extinction threshold has been exceeded) are an empirical testament to the rapidly approaching end of Anglicanism in Wales. Using the current rate of attrition observed over the last 10 years, 2035 and will be a significant year for the Church in Wales.
ReplyDeleteAdvocatus Sacerdotiorum