It was a good question and on last Friday’s BBC Radio
Jersey ’s Questions to the Chief Minister Hour I was able to
ask our Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst if he would agree to arrange a meeting
with the Dean and Bishop and as a gesture of peace and reconciliation they too
could shake hands which would not only set a fine example but would restore
Jersey’s 500 year link with Winchester.
As is often the case when there are family disputes and parties
go off in a huff it requires some one to bring them together. One of course would
hope that when people aspire to positions of high office they would see service
before self as the path to follow. Sadly this is not the case with our Dean or
Bishop. Therefore to avoid further harm and embarrassment to our Island
and the Church of England someone of the standing of our Chief Minister should
be taking the lead to end the impasse.
The Jersey Dean’s appointment with Letters Patent and a seat
in our States Assembly (Parliament) is well past its sell buy date. However as the
Dean is in receipt of a States allowance of £26k in addition to his clergy
salary and rent free accommodation he should be accountable to those he has the
privilege of representing. There will be many who question the Dean’s position and
whether it is becoming untenable because how can he lead our Members of the
States which includes our Lt Governor, Bailiff, and Crown Officers in prayers when
he himself is incapable of forgiving those who trespass against him. I don’t
know what “trespass” the Bishop has inflicted but I doubt if it’s bodily harm
or anything more than harsh words. How can he ask others to seek peace and
reconciliation when he is oblivious to his own shortcomings?
The same could be said of the Bishop and we should not have
to wait for Reports to find out who is responsible for the unseemly dispute. I
mention Reports because in a rather disappointing answer the only way our Chief
Minister could find a way forward was to wait for the publication of the Gladwin,
Steel and the Archbishop’s pending review which could take some years before
being published. Sitting on the fence is not an option.
Those who have closely watched events unfold will have no
difficulty in finding faults on both sides and possibly the two men have been
hurt by words and actions. But surely both men should be capable of privately
settling their differences or being replaced by people with thicker skins and
smaller egos.
I am grateful to BBC Radio Jersey
for allowing me to ask the question and for Team Voice for supplying the video
below which will enable Readers to listen to the questions and “answers.”
Since Bob Key was appointed Dean of Jersey almost ten years ago he has succeeded where most other Anglican Deans have failed - to divide the Church of England in Jersey! His biggest gripe is that Tim Dakin got the post of Bishop of Winchester and he didn't, and he has never forgiven him for it.
ReplyDeleteWhereas some of his congregation idolise him (and I use the word advisedly), those who have seen the real man behind the facade he successfully keeps up most of the time, loathe and despise him for his hypocrisy and grovelling to those in authority, while caring not one jot for those who cannot be of any use to him.
His official status is Dean of Jersey and Rector of St. Helier, yet he has all but abrogated the latter role, though not the salary - leaving most of his duties in this respect to his Dean's Vicar - in favour of the publicity and acclaim of the former title.
Despite this fact, he and his wife continue to occupy the "Deanery", which is really the Rectory for St. Helier and is maintained and financed by the hard-pressed St. Helier ratepayers. Unlike most other Rectors, who welcome their "flocks" to their homes, the Deanery is out of bounds to the St. Helier parishioners, with few of them having been allowed beyond its portals in years!
He may like to portray himself as "a man of the people", and sometimes - if he thinks it will impress his audience - regales his listeners with tales of his childhood in South London, but he is really nothing more than nouveau riche trying to impress!!
Another good blog and spot on as usual.
ReplyDeletePleased to see that the JEP published your letter today. Do you think any one will take up your suggestion or whether the Dean or the Bishop would be pleased to shake hands and think of their flock and not themselves
ReplyDeleteThe Dean doesn't think of anyone other than himself and his connections to the establishment.
DeleteRe 2059 above.
DeleteWhat is disappointing is that it appears that no one sat down with the Dean and Bishop to seek a way forward before splitting from Winchester. It would also appear that it was the Jersey side that was standing on its high moral accusing Winchester of interference.
As one can hear from Senator Gorst's response, he is not prepared to move things on and it appears we are going to endure a bunker mentality for some years or until at least until one the clergy men retire or are transferred. This says very little for either party.
The Chief Minister is indeed in an akward position being a leading follow, of another church.
ReplyDeleteIt would be far better if Chief MInister Gorst used his position to seek approval from the house, to ask the Dean to resign and if he refuses sack him, leaving a vacancy that would not be advertised, and in line with the States commitment to cut away waste.
Having a man of God who refuses to turn the other cheek, or practise humility therefore must be hypocrite. It must be obvious that to be in a position to lecture the members of Government is nothing short of a farce.
I am not sure if the Dean is accountable to the States and given the speed in which he was reinstated after Senator Bailhache's intervention it would appear that due to the Letters Patent the Dean is not accountable to Winchester either.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is any chance of Senator Gorst lodging a proposition in the form you are suggesting as he has made clear that the reports should be published before course of action can be taken.
I was about to make a similar point about sacking the Dean. In the light of Bishop Dakin's impulsive action and hasty retreat it was clearly not in his remit. I suspect that both the religious and civil prerogative lies with EIIR herself.
DeleteThe appointment of the Jersey Dean and Letters Patent goes back over 500 years when the Monarch bestowed privileges on a select few in anticipation of blind loyalty and keeping the peasants at bay.
DeleteThe peasants now have a vote and the right to hold those holding public office to account for their actions.
The delay in the publication of Gladwin Report and the appointment of another Body to review the Constitution is proof that there is a tangled web which could take years to untangle.
It would make sense to repeal the current laws and replace them with fit for purpose legislation with is also Human Rights compliant.
There can be no better demonstration as to why The Dean of Jersey should not sit in the States than Mr Key. Not only has he shown total contempt for his position and his flock in Jersey, he has also brought the Church of England and indeed his religion into disrepute.
ReplyDeleteIt is time to call time on this bigoted little man and send him packing
There was a post written on the BBC Radio Jersey Facebook page earlier today, regarding this subject in relation to the news from the Methodist Church, but it has now been taken down - I thought the press was free in Jersey????
ReplyDeleteA free press in Jersey? Sorry you got the wrong place mate! Bloggers excluded of course Bob.
DeleteAt next Tuesday's States Sitting Deputy J.A.N. Le Fondré of St. Lawrence will ask the following question of the Chief Minister –
ReplyDelete“Could the Chief Minister provide an update as to when the Dame Heather Steel report will be released?”
Is that Ian King the failed hotelier commenting?
ReplyDeleteI don't know but he has the courage to put his name to his comment, why haven't you put yours?
ReplyDeleteBob.
ReplyDeleteJersey International Finance Centre and DEMOCRACY.
I heard you on the radio this morning Bob and you were very measured and courteous but Bruce Willing came across as a bully and a horrible man.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
ReplyDeleteI think it is a question of style. It appeared that Bruce had a set agenda in that the Dean was whiter than white and the naughty Bishop was responsible for all the problems that now exist. Should anyone challenge that belief they are likely to get a flea in their ear.
I missed it on the radio this morning have you got a recording anywhere? Bruce Willing is a bully.
ReplyDeleteI have asked for a link and will endeavour to publish it as a blog.
DeleteBruce Willing should be banned from the air waves for his type of hate speech against abuse victims. It's his kind of attitude which helps abusers get away with it for so long.
ReplyDeleteBruce is entitled to his view but sadly he was strident and not prepared to listen to an alternate view. In his book blame is to be found outside the Island and is of the view that Bishop Dakin should apologise for his failures before "we" can move on.
DeleteBob,
ReplyDeleteIf Bruce Willing's views represent those of the Church's it is small wonder as to why there has been so much abuse carried out and covered up inside the church.
You could well be right.
ReplyDeleteBob.
ReplyDeleteFrom today's PROTEST.