Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Reverend takes fight with church to streets
AN ANGLICAN priest has set up a tent outside the palatial official Bishopscourt residence of the church’s leader in an attempt to draw attention to her plight.
Reverend June Major has also been on hunger strike since Wednesday, an action she said was to drive home the pain and “suffering” she had endured for more than 15 years.
Major’s protest was two-pronged – to highlight gender-based violence and the impact of the loss of income – which she claimed was brought on by the church.
“The church is not acknowledging its fault, which brought me to this position,” she said.
Shortly after setting up the tent outside the entrance gate to Archbishop Thabo Makgoba’s residence, Major said Makgoba met her on Wednesday to discuss her grievances.
“I was not satisfied with his response as the church is still not taking responsibility for the position I find myself in, which forced me to go to the courts to seek justice.
“On Wednesday, the Archbishop could only commit to praying for me, and I responded by telling him that when he’s done praying, he will find me outside,” she said.
Major has been embroiled in a long-standing battle with the church after she was allegedly raped while at a theological seminary in Grahamstown in 2004.
She brought the alleged rape and other incidents of verbal harassment by some clergy to the attention of the church but said no action was taken.
In August 2014, she resigned as rector of St Matthew’s Church in Claremont on the understanding that she would remain a cleric of the church, free to apply as minister at any other parish, church or diocese.
A year later, Major requested a letter of commendation from Makgoba with a view of taking up a full-time position elsewhere in the ministry, but she never received one.
She also accused the church of not providing information timeously to a diocese in Wangaratta, Australia, where she had applied for a job.
As a result, Major said she failed to secure the post.
In 2017, she launched a civil claims lawsuit against the church for loss of income, and the case was likely to be heard next year, Major added.
“I have suffered a lot. I have been humiliated in the church. The church has shown no remorse, and that’s pained me,” Major said.
Spokesperson for the church, Keith De Vos, said Archbishop Makgoba was “very concerned” about her health in the winter cold.
“She has given notice of her intention to sue the church in the civil courts, and lawyers have advised us that although the prospects of successfully defending the claim are good, we should not discuss the merits of the matter pending court proceedings.
“We take allegations of abuse very seriously,” said De Vos.