Unite calls for two bishops to resign for allowing ‘culture of
bullying’ in Worcestershire diocese
16th December 2009
Vicar leaves rectory after four years of
torment
The resignation of two Church of England bishops was called for
today (Wednesday,
16 December) for presiding over ‘a culture of neglect and bullying’
in the Diocese of Worcester.
The call came as the vicar, Revd. Mark Sharpe and his family,
who have suffered four years of torment, left their home, the
rectory at Hanley Broadheath, near Worcester today (Wednesday),
after eviction proceedings were started.
Unite, the largest union in the country which represents 2,500
faith workers, has now asked that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Most Revd. Rowan Williams set up a high-level and immediate
investigation into the four year-old campaign of harassment that
Revd. Sharpe and his family have experienced.
Unite has called for the Rt. Revd. John Inge, Bishop of
Worcester and Rt. Revd. David Walker, the Suffragan Bishop of
Dudley, to step down immediately ‘for washing their hands like
Pontius Pilate’. The union also wants the diocesan surveyor, Mark
Wild and the diocesan registrar, Michael Huskinson to quit.
Unite said that the bishops allowed Revd. Sharpe, rector of Teme
Valley South, his wife Sara and their four children to suffer a
campaign of intimidation from parishioners when they moved to the
rectory in remote Worcestershire in 2005.
Rachael Maskell, Unite national officer, community and non
profit sector: ”The two bishops have washed their hands like
Pontius Pilate - and, unfortunately, we know of other cases in the
diocese where a culture of bullying, neglect and poor housing for
members of the clergy prevails. The two bishops should resign
immediately, as should the diocesan surveyor and diocesan
registrar.
”Unite would like the Archbishop of Canterbury to order an
investigation into the events surrounding Mark and his family.
”The fact that Mark and his family have been forced to leave
their home during the so-called season of goodwill at the pinnacle
of the Christian year is a disgrace, and a dark stain on the
church’s reputation.“
Revd. Sharpe’s parishioners sent him and his family ‘to
Coventry’, and exposed them to a campaign of abuse and intimidation
after he exposed long-standing irregularities in parish
affairs.
Unite had been negotiating a settlement for Rev. Sharpe, who has
been off sick with stress since April 2006, but before it could be
reached, announcements were made in the parish’s churches; contrary
to advice, that he was leaving his post.
Rachael Maskell said: ”This is a toxic parish with a 40-year
history of clergy leaving abruptly or in broken health. The bishops
knew the history involved and failed to exercise their duty of care
in the legal or moral respects. They have failed both as employers
and Christians.
”The Church of England needs to introduce the full range of
employment rights for its entire clergy, including Section 23 of
the 1999 Employment Relations Act.”
The campaign of harassment included the tyres to Revd. Sharpe’s
car being slashed twice; the poisoning of a pet dog; the theft of
central heating oil three times; his family being sworn at; his
post being tampered with; and his internet and phone connections
being cut.
Because of constant prowlers, CCTV cameras were installed at the
rectory in Hanley Broadheath, near Worcester. The family is now
moving to rented accommodation.
Despite pleas to the Bishops of Dudley and Worcester, the
Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Rowan Williams and John Sentamu
respectively, Revd. Sharpe said the church authorities have done
nothing to help or support him.
Revd. Sharpe is appealing to an Employment Tribunal. His case
rests on the fact that the church should have warned him of the
nature of the parish and its problems before offering him the
post.
Revd. Sharpe was in a ‘Catch 22’ situation. Until he could move
to new accommodation, he lived in the dilapidated rectory which he
couldn’t move from; otherwise he and his family would have been
homeless. The building was riddled with damp and mould; had
asbestos problems; part of the ceiling had given way; the chimney
was unsafe; and tiles were falling off the roof. He, his wife and
children became seriously ill because of the problems in the
rectory.
Revd. Sharpe said: ”My career has been ruined, my health and
that of my wife and children has been shattered, and my family has
suffered terribly from all the strain.
”When we came here in 2005, I was told by the church that they
were looking for stability, as the last vicar had left after 18
months for health reasons.
”I found a situation that was allowed to fester for decades,
where of the four parishes only three were legally constituted. The
treasurer and parochial church council (PCC) were not legal
entities. There was also the case of the village hall refurbishment
which had not been properly managed.
”These admin and financial problems were all eventually sorted
out, but this seemed to spark a wave of resentment from the
community which has culminated in my family and I living in a
climate of fear in a supposedly rural idyll.
”There have been too many incidences of harassment over the last
four years for them to be the odd coincidence.
”I need the Church to compensate us for the damage that it has
caused so that we can rebuild our lives. Those who have failed us
should also be asked to account for their actions. The Church of
England also needs to recognise that it has a duty of care to their
clergy generally, especially when they have a difficult parish.
”The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have been written to for
their support. They seem quite happy to comment extensively on
global affairs, but not on how one of the clergy has been subject
to harassment.”
ENDS
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
PHOTO-OPPORTUNITY: Revd. Sharpe and his family will leave the
rectory at 2.00pm on Wednesday, 16 December, should the media wish
to interview, film and photograph Revd. Sharpe.
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