Unite's Rachel Maskell Calls For "Pontius Pilate" Bishops To Resign

The resignation of two Church of England bishops was called for, 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, after eviction proceedings were started.

Unite represents 2,500 faith workers, has asked that the Archbishop of Canterbury, to set up a high-level and immediate investigation into the four year-old campaign of harassment that Rev. 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 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.”