Saturday, 10 April 2021

Loadsamoney!

Llandaff Cathedral                                                                                           Original source: Twitter


From Twitter: 

Llandaff Cathedral @LlandaffCath
The Cathedral Chapter are delighted to be creating two new posts at the Cathedral. We are looking for a Chief Executive & Chapter Clerk, as well as an Assistant Director of Music.
For details about these exciting opportunities & how to apply, click here - https://bit.ly/2POWjkB

Previously: "The Dean and Chapter are seeking to appoint a Cathedral Steward and a Development Director in two newly created posts as key members of the Cathedral’s senior staff as it celebrates its 900th anniversary.

The Church of England is on the same track. The Archbishop of York has come under fire for 'sending the wrong message' by advertising for £90,000-a-year chief of staff.

Meanwhile at HQ the Archbishop of Canterbury seeks an agreement to disagree over gay marriage within the Anglican world.

As the Anglican Church declines in membership and influence spending increases on secular style appointments to support senior management leaving one to wonder how senior clergy managed when churches were full.

On the plus side they should have more time to read their Bibles and remind themselves that they are not not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

30 comments:

  1. Yes, dismiss all Church in Wales public relations officers - yes, every one - and get the bishops themselves to make press announcements. AB could do it admirably; they should be capable of doing the same.
    Rob

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  2. That sounds remarkably similar to the reccomendations made by Professor Eleri Jones some ten years ago at a cost of £5,000.
    Regular blog readers will recall that only a few months later both the report and the recommendations were consigned to the shredder by Peggy the Pilate as out of date.
    Fortunately the Archdeaconesse is now facing her own imminent retirement to obscurity and oblivion. Good riddance etc.
    It sounds to me like Caiaphas and her "inner" Chapter are moving on these appointments as quickly as possible to get them in place before Gerwhine returns.

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  3. PP. Or, are we seeing a metropolitan see being created as per the Harris Report, and the former Episcopal Incumbent's ambition, ready for the AB election heats !

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    1. PP, if the Harries Report were being adhered to and implemented as the Bench insisted when they forced Parishes into Misery Areas, John Davies would have become Bishop of Swansea and Brecon and St Davids on the retirement of Bishop Wyn Evans. Bishop Richard Pain would have inherited Llandaff Diocese on the retirement of Archbishop Morgan; and Bishop June Osborne would have inherited Monmouth Diocese on the retirement of Richard Pain. The Harries Report only matters when the hierarchy are not affected by it. Currently, they are looking to replace John Davies after May 2; and word on the ground is that Joanna Pemberthy fancies a new posting.
      Parishes that were forced into Misery Areas should refuse to stay in them. When the Benchsitters watch their schemes falling apart, I bet things would soon change.
      Since the blog is on the subject of Llandaff Cathedral, where is the absentee dean? Is he due to return? When our Vicar was ill for a year, he was made to resign the parish, as per the constitution.
      Seymour

      Delete
  4. If you follow the links through to the Job Spec for the Chief Executive / Chapter Clerk, there's an interesting little diagram that shows how this post will have oversight of all Cathedral staff and operations.

    It's quite astute to professionalise this aspect of the Cathedral, considering that previous incumbents were rank amateurs like Captain Peacock and Mr Toad, swanning about the place with pompous airs but no idea of how to run it. Significant sums of money were lost in the process.

    If a Chief Exec is needed to shore things up, so be it.

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  5. Judging from the job description one could be forgiven for believing that it has been written precisely for the purpose of sidelining the slimy amphibian Mr Toad, perhaps in the hope that he won't bother returning from his furlough leave.
    One can but hope.

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  6. The suggestion that the position of assistant Director of Music is new is a grotesque distortion of the truth as the likes of Graham Elliot, Michael Hoeg, James Norrey and Sachin Gunga could confirm.
    The list of job duties is identical to the duties of the last three. All that has changed is the job title, from Assistant Organist, and the only reason for that is to avoid legal issues following Peggy the Pilate.,Masson, Kirk said Smith making that post redundant in 2013.
    From where is £27k per annum to come?

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    1. What's the point in having a Director of Music, an assistant Director of Music and a Parish Organist without a back row of proper Lay Clerks that know what they're doing rather than a bunch of zero hours student burger flippers?
      Not that I have ever believed a single word that proceeded from the mouth of Peggy the Pilate, but if Llandaff had to make their Lay Clerks and assistant Organist redundant only 8 years ago to save £48,000 a year, how can they afford a new CEO/Chapter Clerk, an assistant DoM, a Chapter Secretary and a development Manager following a year of lockdown and severely reduced income?
      The stench of swamp gas is rising once more.

      Delete
  7. Cwmtwp Patch: I heard from a local source that there is a rumour that two properties, one occupant missing in action, from Llandaff and a substantial residence about to go on the market. Perhaps this is the source of income?

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    Replies
    1. If so, it would be total folly to flog off the last of the family silver.
      Then what?
      Plus, if they are foolish enough to do that, the Chapter will no longer be able to hide the holes in the annual accounts and large deficits by revaluing the properties every year.

      Delete
  8. Well, well few remaining pew sitters, the ears in the walls report tonight's Easter Vestry meeting could be a lively affair.
    No proper accounts have been prepared, merely a "summary" which is hardly transparent of the new Chapter.
    Plus an open letter with thirty or more signatures has been sent to the Chapter demanding explanations for the missing Capon, the lack of proper accounts with all thirty withholding their giving until they get answers.
    Same circus, different clowns.
    For anyone interested in watching the sham AGM you can tune in to the comedy on YouTube.

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  9. PP. 1662. Interesting post. If the Cathedral is a registered charity it is a requirement in law to publish a full set of accounts, duly audited by persons not associated therein. Any member, has the right to call the vestry illegal. To hide or misinform is a very serious breach of Charity law. As as example, The Salvation Army got into very hot water in the last year for poor factual reporting, subsequently, accountants were removed. And the Charity Commissioner sent in an audit team.
    Has anyone prepared to record the event covertly, as the YouTube/media version can be edited during the event by simply just recording the nice bits.
    I would think the Dean would be a brave soul to even be there, I wonder if he will send his apologies which he is under obligation to do.
    O the joy of Llandaff life .

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  10. This blog is truly a great source of entertainment.

    1662, clearly the clowns are the signatories to the hilariously badly written letter. These hard-of-thinking people who signed it didn't even send it to the Bishop, the Dean's employer! What's more, most of the congregation wouldn't even recognise half of the names on it.

    And no wonder Anonymous wouldn't put a name to such an idiotic comment, you do understand what a Live Stream is? It's live, so it cannot be edited while it's being shown. The Chapter publish their minutes on the Cathedral website and the AVM is being streamed live and apparently can be watched as-live afterwards, that's more transparent than the Cathedral Chapter has ever been.

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    1. If ignorance is bliss then you are leading an idyllic existence.
      The Dean is employed (and paid by) the Representative Body of the Church in Wales, not the Cathedral, Bishopette or even the Diocese of Llandaff.

      Delete
    2. So you agree it's not the Chapter's responsibility to clarify the status of an employee of the Representative Body of the Church in Wales?

      Delete
    3. No, I don't agree with you.
      As the Parish priest of Llandaff and notionally the leader of the Chapter, the Easter Vestry meeting is precisely the place to ask the other Chapter members and the Church Wardens "Where's Wally?".

      Delete
    4. The employment "status" of the dud in the Llandaff Deanery isn't the issue.
      His whereabouts and year-long absence are.

      Delete
    5. It appears that they have no idea of the answer to the question either.

      Delete
    6. Subversive Canon27 April 2021 at 21:56

      Points to note and subsequent questions.

      The letter read out by Nick Mason sounds as though the Capon might have written it or at least had a significant input to it, and the thirty two signatories are the Capon fan club.

      Gerard Elias QC essentially told them, in between theatrical sips of water, to go forth and multiply.
      However, in doing so he appears to have revealed far more than he intended, raising more questions rather than putting the matter to bed.

      If Gerard Elias QC and the Chapter know nothing about what's going on with the Capon, why did he make reference to prejudicing some process or proceedings?
      He must be aware of such proceedings occurring and which are presumably still on-going, else what basis would there be for referring to them?

      If Gerard Elias QC and the Chapter know nothing about what's going on with the Capon, how could they possibly prejudice any such proceedings in any case?

      If Gerard Elias QC and the Chapter knew nothing about what's going on with the Capon, on what basis was there any need to seek any legal advice at all?

      If Gerard Elias QC and the Chapter knew nothing about what's going on with the Capon, what possible questions could they have put to any such legal advisor?

      What answers were provided to Gerard Elias QC and the Chapter by any such legal advisor?

      The swamp stinks as ever.

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    7. Having heard Mr Bacon describe the previous four years of steady decline in income accompanied by steady increase in expenditure prior to the disappearance of the dud in the Deanery followed by significant improvements over the last twelve months in his absence, one might speculate the legal advice sought might have been how to make the Capon's absence permanent.

      Delete
    8. One can but hope.
      Ditto Mr Toad.
      One thing is obvious, the house is as divided as ever and it is only a matter of time before it falls.

      Delete
    9. If the new Chapter ever hope to persuade me back to the Cathedral along with my giving, they will publish the Chapter minutes from the time of the Organ Appeal as well as proper accounts for it.
      Now that's what I call transparency!

      Delete
    10. Don't forget there's a couple of missing Quinquennial reports yet to be subjected to the new claimed transparency.

      Delete
    11. Mr Bacon almost sounded plausible until he mentioned that Peggy the Pilate will be taking over the accounts after his two years are up due to her previous experience as an accountant. The Archdeaconesse played a significant role in causing the original problems and only a mug could possibly believe she has anything to contribute now.

      Delete
    12. Retired QC, 40 - Consultant anaesthetist, love.

      But the game continues.

      Delete
    13. The question, "Which Cathedral staff have been furloughed?" posed to Mr Bacon by Linda Quinn remains unanswered.
      Why is that?

      Delete
    14. The ears in the walls report rumours of a second letter to the Chapter being prepared.
      Any sign of the promised full accounts yet?

      Delete
  11. PP. I think someone is misinformed. What I mean is it's simple to while running a live internet feed. You just stop the camera. Most of the Churches have been on the net live, and their is lagging, pausing and signal issues. Don't believe it cannot be done.

    Has anyone read the accounts documents on the Cathedral website? Even from that snipit you can certainly question some expenditure. If the Dean has been absent why is his authority noted in the documents online?
    The Dean as any clerk in holy orders is responsible to the RB but, the line manager is Ma' Lady Bishop. Perhaps the Dean will appear? Not long to wait

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    Replies
    1. Here's the link to the faux "accounts".
      What's the betting these will appear as a Powerpoint presentation at the EVM?

      https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/210427-AVM-Presentation-Finance.pdf

      Delete
  12. By an incredible twist of fate, the YouTube video of the Vestry Meeting has been set to 'private'. Fortunately, some of us have the foresight and presence of mind to download such things in preparation for such eventualities.

    https://filebin.net/rx9gtq2a84yksl40

    AMDG.

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