Wycliffe Council backs Principal in process of change
In a statement released by the Wycliffe Hall Council, which is chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, they said they had given their backing to the current Principal, but admitted the college was going through a period of change.
It read: “The Council has embarked on a major review of its governance and a new development strategy for the future of the Hall in the light of changing patterns of ministerial formation. This inevitably involves changes that are unsettling. Wycliffe is committed to maintaining its evangelical ethos and its international reputation for excellence in theological education, ministerial formation and training for Christian leadership in the church and the world.
“At a meeting of the Council to consider the report of a specially commissioned ‘listening process’, the Council unanimously reiterated its support for the Principal and committed itself to facilitate the necessary changes. “The Hall is recruiting record numbers of candidates for this year and the next academic year.â€
A LEADING evangelical theological college this week responded to allegations of bullying and deep divisions among staff due to it becoming more doctrinally conservative.
The Council of Wycliffe Hall, which is part of the University of Oxford, admitted the college was going through a period of change which was ‘unsettling’. The statement follows a document circulated to the press which claims the college in ‘in crisis’ after being ‘taken over’ by a ‘highly conservative evangelical faction who are deliberately trying to drive out longstanding and highly respected staff members by their aggressive, homophobic behaviour’.
The anonymous document claims that since the appointment two years ago of the current Principal, the Rev Dr Richard Turnbull,the culture at the college has ‘become increasingly hostile to women priests and openly homophobic’, and that a ‘culture of bullying and intimidation
began to develop’.
It adds that unrest grew at the college when Dr Turnbull signed the controversial ‘Covenant for the Church of England’, a document drawn up by conservative evangelicals proposing alternative Episcopal arrangements for their churches in the row over homosexuality. The document claims that several members of the teaching staff have already resigned as they feel alienated and intimidated by the college management, and calls for the Church of England to intervene.
It concludes: “This college is no longer fit to be recognised either as a training institution for the ordinands of the Church of England or as a permanent private hall of Oxford University. It is not a safe place for women or gays … the Church and university must act to do something.â€
Wycliffe’s Principal, the Rev Dr Richard Turnbull, said he was unable to comment on the situation due to ongoing disciplinary procedures taking place at the college.
In a statement released by the Wycliffe Hall Council, which is chaired by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, they said they had given their backing to the current Principal, but admitted the college was going through a period of change.
It read: “The Council has embarked on a major review of its governance and a new development strategy for the future of the Hall in the light of changing patterns of ministerial formation. This inevitably involves changes that are unsettling. Wycliffe is committed to maintaining its evangelical ethos and its international reputation for excellence in theological education, ministerial formation and training for Christian leadership in the church and the world.
“At a meeting of the Council to consider the report of a specially commissioned ‘listening process’, the Council unanimously reiterated its support for the Principal and committed itself to facilitate the necessary changes. “The Hall is recruiting record numbers of candidates for this year and the next academic year.â€
The Church of England Newspaper
[Read Church Times report here->http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=39122]
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