First female Dean of Llandaff Cathedral quits after two months; Lord Hope denies abuse ‘negligence’; Diocesan Reorganisation to be referred to General Synod; Criticism of bishops’ gesture politics; Carey on Same sex marriage
First female Dean of Llandaff Cathedral quits after two months
Wales on Line – The first woman Dean of Llandaff Cathedral has resigned just two months after she was installed in the post.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said he had accepted Janet Henderson’s resignation “with enormous sadness”.
Church in Wales sources have told WalesOnline that Dean Henderson had had “a “difficult time” since her appointment, with some clergy resenting the appointment of a woman.
And last month we revealed how some members of the Cathedral choir had been angered by what they saw as low fees being offered to perform on BBC One’s Songs of Praise programme.
On Sunday Dean Henderson, who was also the Llandaff parish vicar, was not at the Cathedral for any of the seven services.
A source told us: “The Dean has been affected by the opposition she has had from some clergy who object to the fact that a woman was appointed.
“The fees row relating to Songs of Praise may have been the last straw.”
Dr Morgan has championed the role of women clergy in the Church, and it is a personal setback for him that Dean Henderson has gone so quickly after arriving at Llandaff. More at:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dean-of-llandaff-cathedral-quits-3567892
Lord Hope denies abuse ‘negligence’
Former Archbishop of York, David Hope, has “strenuously denied” he “acted negligently” in not referring refer sexual abuse complaints against a Church of England cleric to police.
The Times said he was told of claims against ex-Dean of Manchester, Robert Waddington, in 1999 and again in 2003.
They involved an Australian schoolboy and a Manchester Cathedral choirboy.
The now Lord Hope said he had acted strictly in line with Church child protection policy of the times.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22476631
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/10/church-england-child-abuse-allegations
Diocesan Reorganisation to be referred to General Synod
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has announced that the Dioceses Commission Draft Reorganisation Scheme for the Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield will be put to General Synod.
http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2895/diocesan-reorganisation-to-be-referred-to-general-synod
Bishops gesture politics allegation
Reports that Frank Field MP, writing in the Independent, has called for the CofE Bishops in the House of Lords to lose their seats “because they play ‘gesture politics’ but do not bother to vote”.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-archbishop-of-canterbury-justin-welby-urged-to-scrap-most-bishops-seats-in-house-of-lords-8610096.html
Independent Editorial on above: “The bishops are the least of the problem”.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-the-bishops-in-the-house-of-lords-are-the-least-of-the-problem-8609379.html
Carey on Same sex marriage
Reports that Lord Carey has criticised David Cameron over same-sex marriage, “accusing him of being so ‘desperate’ to write opponents off as ‘dinosaurs’ that he ignored the views of grassroots supporters.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10047700/Lord-Carey-tells-Cameron-stop-treating-grassroots-like-dinosaurs.html