Anglican Unscripted 513 – Anglican’s Nixonion Moment

1. I am a bit puzzled by this episode
   Firstly, there seems to be a degree of schadenfreude among the three contributors. At last these horrible evangelicals are going to get what’s coming to them.
   Secondly, it appears that when the allegations first surfaced, the police were called in, which is exactly what should happen. They have decided that no further action will be taken, which may be right or wrong, but it means that the police believe that no crime has taken place. Also, churches were informed that the minister in question should not be invited to officiate elsewhere. That is also exactly what should happen. This advice has recently been repeated.
   Personally, I can’t see what more could have been done and I don’t see how naming Rod Thomas, who ministered down in Plymouth and far from Wimbledon for several years before becoming Bishop of Maidstone, is the least bit helpful
   It was interesting, however, to learn that Gavin Ashendon, had reports of Peter Ball’s procilities back in the ’80s and apparently did nothing about them. Is he going to resign his bishopric?

2. Firstly I greatly enjoy Kevin, George and Gavin speaking together. Gavin seemed somewhat troubled, but perhaps that was because he holds the confidences of others on the matter.
   I know nothing about this impending scandal. It doesn’t seem to have made any impact on the evangelical non-conformist world, so perhaps is confined to the CofE?
   Anyway some observations..
   It is the highly structured churches in which these things tend to happen, i.e. the Anglicans and the Catholics.
   Highly complex organisations exert a huge influence on their members.
   If one wishes to serve or become a member of the clergy the rules (spoken and unspoken) must be followed.
   If one wishes to er, advance in position and influence, it can be done either by leading an exemplary and effective life or/and making contacts with the kind of people who can help you along the way..
   In the course of one’s involvement particular friendships may be struck up with like minded people leading to inclusion in groups or cliques operating within the structure. And also having their own spoken and unspoken rules. One may have for example a certain proclivity which requires great secrecy and subterfuge in order to partake.
   It can be quite exciting (and ego boosting) to belong to a select little group, but of course there are inherent dangers also. One might be asked to do something which one would not normally agree with or wish one’s wife to know about, but belonging to the group is still highly desirable. Or perhaps the group now knows things about you that you would not like to be known publicly….
   And that’s how these awful scandals come about.
   I am not saying that the CofE or the Roman Catholic Church are inherently corrupt, only that by dint of their size, structure and hierarchy, it is much easier for things to go horribly, horribly wrong and for individual’s lives and reputations to be ruined in the process.

   • Well I don’t know very much about the Southern Baptists, except that they were associated with the Moral Majority, (which I didn’t agree with anyway). But the same point applies, that a highly organised and structured church organisation has more likelihood of things going wrong and being hidden,

     • Yee-e-es, but not necessarily.
       If all people involved are regarded as and feel themselves to be equal, it may in fact be that there will be fewer serious errors.
       Introduce deference based on status, secrecy, exclusivity and special interest groups there is a greater likelihood of low morale, disillusionment and serious scandals occurring.
       I was fortunate to experience kibbutz life which as you perhaps know is based on the principles of socialism. “From each according to his ability to each according to his need. Thus on any issue all members express their opinion on an equal basis, and decisions are made collectively. I think we Christians could follow that principle.

       • I should have incorporated part of your first sentence…
         “but majorities may err still and are susceptible of turning into a mob, swayed by the emotion of the moment.”This is quite true, but I was meaning Christians..

         • You were in Israel? Which year(s) and where was the proposed site of the kibbutz? I was involved with an organization putting groups of Christians on kibbutzim for a years programme, but I doubt a Christian kibbutz would be successful!

         • Ha! July 1972 was the year I left Israel after two years, and travelled to a EUropean nation where I joined a US based international/ interdenominational evangelical organisation, with whom I served for five years.
           I subsequently returned to lead a group of young Christians on kibbutz for a year, then a couple more years in the very south of Israel..

           What you discovered is a) on your tour bus the incredibly talented nature of the Jewish people, and b) the extraordinary influence exercised by the Datiim (the religious Jews) who don’t believe Israel should exist as a State because Messiah has not yet come.. The number of Messianic congregations and their interactions with Arab Christians has increased amazingly since I had the pleasure and privilege of living there.

3. Let’s be clear that they are talking about Jonathan Fletcher.

   Gavin Ashenden says in this video that Fletcher was engaged in “homo-erotic pastoral engagements with young men of a manipulative and blackmailing kind” and “it ranged from sexual horseplay to something much more serious”.

   If that is true, it is quite shocking. My prayers are with the victims.

   But why no announcement from anyone back in 2017 when Fletcher’s PTO was revoked? Why did it take a story in the Daily Telegraph before there was any public comment? It gives the impression that everyone has sought to cover this up to protect their reputations. That is simply not acceptable in the church.

4. I was very puzzled when I read the title of this video – what did onions have to do with it, and why were they being nixed? Then I realised that perhaps there was a typo – should it read ‘Nixonian’?

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