Surviving Church Conflict

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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.

The Dean’s own witness statement was edited without his knowledge, and several pieces of key evidence provided by him were removed from Woods report. Introducing Ms Atkinson to General Synod in February 2022 the Lead Safeguarding Bishop Jonathan Gibbs hailed the ISB as “ fully independent “ – a sentiment the new Chair echoed, Some members of General Synod were already slightly sceptical and were seeking clarifications 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. I had been struggling to understand this ingrained and consistent behaviour for some time. It was Fiona Gardner’s book ‘Sex, Power, Control: Responding to Abuse in the Institutional Church’ that analysed the situation and explained what was going on.Martyn Percy will not co-operate with a process he regards as tainted from the outset. No intelligent person would. On Friday he withdrew his co-operation from the review, not out of petulance, but to uphold a key principle. Consultation (NB NOT veto) means consultation – not meekly taking instructions. Ms Atkinson’s resignation comes at the conclusion of a process of contractually “enforced conciliation” – an oxymoron – which was never likely to have a happy outcome after eight months of estrangement seasoned with findings of adverse data mishandling by the Chair. Survivors were reporting a loss of confidence in her, and one can hardly be surprised that the Survivor Advocate Jasvinder Sanghera took their concerns very seriously. Without survivor confidence the ISB is incapable of functioning properly. There’s a rather more sinister possibility: perhaps the bishop has been instructed to follow this course.’ Every Diocese Safeguarding Advisor should also report to a member of the National Safeguarding Team as well as a Diocese Bishop.

There are several known complaints against the Secretary General from survivor victims none of whose grievances appear to quite to fit within the parameters of those NCI complaint policies which have been ascertained. We have already, in this blog post, identified one major problem for Canon Foot as the new Dean. Any belief that her predecessor deserved the three-year period of persecution that he suffered, even though Judge Andrew Smith found him innocent of all 27 charges brought against him, will make it hard to lead the College into a new stage in its history. Still less will she be seen as a figure of reconciliation. It is hard to see how she will manage to dissipate the toxicity of the past. The atmosphere at Christ Church will likely remain poisonous for some time to come and people will continue to choke on the fumes of the hatreds that were stirred up only a short time ago. It is almost appropriate to speak of a need for spiritual deliverance.The statement from the CofE, after a thorough investigation, exonerating the Dean of any wrongdoing. The rejection of that judgment by dons prosecuting the Dean of Christ Church, who were still wanting to assert that the Dean posed a “risk”. (Both September 2020).

in the context of a long-running dispute with the former Dean [Martyn Percy]” there had been “mismanagement and/or misconduct in the management and administration of the charity. This is because the trustees have not (a) managed the charity’s resources responsibly;(b) ensured that the charity is accountable.” Earlier this year a vacancy in the HoB occurred caused by the ‘translation’ of Bishop John Perumbalath, who was one of the five suffragan bishops representing the southern suffragans , to be the diocesan Bishop of Liverpool. Sarah Troughton, a psychiatrist at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), said: “It is essential that the voice of the survivor of church related abuse is no longer silenced but instead valued so that not only healing but post traumatic growth can occur for the individual and the wider church itself. This ethos is central to the project.”Readers of this blog will recognise the signs and symptoms of narcissism. Individuals with severe narcissistic personalities in leadership have had plenty of exposure on this and the other side of the Pond. I need not name examples, except to note that despite continuing uncovering of significant moral and other failures, they still believe wholeheartedly in their own narrative and are not dissuaded in carrying on their crusades to regaining power whatsoever. 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 a copy of a newsletter written by Martin Sewell which helps a reader to understand at depth the issues on safeguarding that are coming before General Synod this week. Previous newsletters have been shared with synod members. ED.