Bishop’s suspension call in diocese ‘culture of fear’
AVICAR has claimed there is a “climate of fear” in the Church in Wales diocese of Llandaff and has called for the bishop to be suspended.
The call, by Rev Vicki Burrows, is the latest development amid allegations of a relationship breakdown between Bishop June Osborne and Dean Gerwyn Capon.
In 2020 the Dean submitted a 31-page complaint about Bishop Osborne to the Church. In it, he alleged that after Bishop Osborne took up her post in 2017, she made it clear that she had no confidence in him, stating that she believed allegations relating to the running of an organ appeal.
These allegations had been investigated by the then-Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, in conjunction with the Charity Commission shortly before Dr Capon had been appointed Dean. The conclusion of the inquiry was that the allegations were unfounded. Dr Capon subsequently reviewed the allegations and came to the same conclusion.
The Chapter [ruling body] of Llandaff Cathedral published on its website claims that the Dean had misspent more than £30,000. The allegations were included in the cathedral’s annual report and financial statements for the year 2020. In fact, an earlier inquiry which reported in October 2020 had concluded that the Dean was innocent of such allegations.
In a letter to the Church Times, the Rev Burrows, vicar of Radyr, St Fagans and Michaelston-super-Ely and Garth ministry area leader, wrote: “You recently reported that the Dean of Llandaff, the Very Rev Gerwyn Capon, has brought a case of ‘bullying and harassment’ against the Bishop, the Rt Rev June Osborne.
“Under the complaints procedure of the Church in Wales, a disciplinary committee found that she had ‘a case to answer’ [...]
“I believe that I speak for many clergy when I say that there is a culture of fear in Llandaff diocese. Curates, vicars, ministry area leaders and lay diocesan staff tell me that they fear their Bishop. Although many say privately that they have been ignored, reprimanded, moved sideways, paid off, invited to take early retirement, or that their resignation is referred to as a retirement.
“I imagine they would be too fearful of repercussions from the Bishop to put their signature to this letter.
“Knowing that I would be suspended if it were alleged that I had bullied a colleague, may I suggest that the president of the disciplinary tribunal suspend the Bishop of Llandaff – since he alone has the power to do so, as the investigatory committee that found a case to answer by her was set up by him – while the seriousness of the allegations made by Dean Capon is considered.”
Rev Burrows concluded her letter by stating: “I hope that, at the same time, an open and transparent review both of the policies and processes of the Church in Wales and the Llandaff Cathedral Chapter will be conducted by an independent agency.”
A spokesman for the Church in Wales’ national office said: “We note the contents of the letter from the Reverend Vicki Burrows.
“Since publication, the Archdeacon of Llandaff has been in contact with the author in order to seek clarification on the issues that she has raised.
“The Church in Wales takes all allegations of bullying seriously.”
In a letter sent to all clergy in the diocese on New Year’s Eve, the two archdeacons, Mike Komor and Rod Green, stated: “We extend an invitation to you to speak with us about concerns you have about the Diocese. This would be in confidence.
“The senior leadership team is committed to hearing your views in light of the recent letters and we’re asking Matt Batten [director of communications and engagement for the diocese] to put together a survey that you should find in your inbox in the coming days. Your feedback will be anonymous and is entirely voluntary.”
The Bishop of Llandaff did not wish to comment.