Dear Sir,
I was grateful for Jonathan Worsley’s sensitive article on the front page of August’s [Evangelicals Now] under the title ‘Time to come clean’ but I am sorry he was not able to get in touch beforehand so that I could pass on the statement that has been forwarded to the press. It is as follows:
Statement by Jonathan Fletcher, 11th July 2019. ‘I am daily praying through Psalm 38 where David acknowledges unequivocally his sin, repents and seeks forgiveness. This is my daily prayer. Although at the time I did not think my actions were sinful I have come to see
that they were not only unwise but wrong especially insofar that they caused spiritual harm. For this I am deeply, deeply sorry and I want to know those whom I may have harmed, albeit unwittingly, so that I can seek their forgiveness and indeed the forgiveness of those who have been deeply hurt and offended by what they have heard.’
I judge that Psalm 38 is the deepest of the penitential Psalms and that is my position. I want people to read it. I am praying that even in this wretched situation we shall discover that Romans 8.28 will be fulfilled and with hindsight good may come of it. This is already beginning to happen. We are being woken up to the possibility of serious spiritual abuse and therefore able to reach out to those who have been damaged. When I discover who it is I have harmed I want to beg their forgiveness. It is also good that the evangelical hierarchy have not been involved in any cover up. This is very important for our reputation.
But I am hoping that some way down the line lessons may be learnt as to how to restore a penitent sinner as out-lined by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 and 2 Corinthians 2:5-11.
In sadness and penitence,
Jonathan Fletcher
Wow. When stuff like this comes out it is unfathomable to me that anyone, bureaucrat or offender, still thinks it a good idea to talk about salvaging reputation and restoring the offender in the same breath with what is meant to be a confession… but sounds remarkably like spiritual posturing.
I find this letter to be deeply offensive, and suspiciously disingenuous. Any intelligent minister could tell that the behaviour that we have been hearing about is abusive, especially since all Church of England clergy are required to undertake Safeguarding training, where behaviour far less serious is described. Interestingly Jonathan Fletcher has at no point described his behaviour, he’s apparently having to rely on others to describe it to him.
Not least of all there’s the appalling example of Grantchester – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeDB77vkhtI&feature=youtu.be
How could Jonathan Fletcher have that in mind and then say, “Although at the time I did not think my actions were sinful I have come to see that they were not only unwise but wrong especially insofar that they caused spiritual harm.”
And is there really no link with Jonathan Fletcher tracking this man down and offering to put him up? http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/prison-comic-place-world-former-brixton-prison-inmate-reflects-time-behind-bars/
I’d have thought with the repeated emphasis that comes from the Evangelical wing about being pure and not spending time with women alone, that it would be extremely questionable for a single clergyman to offer to put someone up with these sorts of interests.
If you don’t want to read the whole article, take a look at the last few paragraphs.
There is a disturbing trail of sado-masochism and homoeroticism here.
Fletcher’s letter smacks of further manipulation requiring the victims to offer forgiveness and therefore be quiet, when this appalling behaviour needs to be called what it is and brought to justice.
As for the claim that “It is also good that the evangelical hierarchy have not been involved in any cover up.” That’s quite a bold statement with little to back it up, especially given the ‘redaction’ that seems to be taking place across the internet regarding Fletcher and the sheer lethargy in bringing the abuse to light.
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