Oak Hill, the Church of England theological college rocked by bullying allegations against its Vice Principal, deserves credit for trying hard to put its house in order. But the latest ‘Update on our Culture’ from the conservative evangelical college in north London leaves various questions unanswered.

A Premier Christian News story on November 20 reported:

‘Former employees have warned Oak Hill Theological College is no longer “a safe place” as reports emerge of a high staff turnover amid accusations of bullying by a senior leader. Sydney Tooth, previously director of Postgraduate Studies and lecturer in New Testament and Greek at the Christian training college in north London, has said she suffered extreme anxiety and depression after experiencing treatment which she describes as bullying by the college’s vice principal, Matthew Sleeman.’

The Premier story followed articles about the problems at the college in the Church Times, Evangelicals Now and Anglican Ink. But Premier was the first news organisation to link Sleeman to the bullying allegations against a member of Oak Hill’s leadership team first aired by the Church Times on November 7.

The paper reported on the ‘organisational-health’ review which Oak Hill commissioned after the departure in 2023 of the Revd Johnny Juckes as College President. ‘The Church Times understands that the concerns raised by staff which prompted the review do not pertain only to Mr Juckes’s leadership, but also to the conduct of another member of the current leadership. In the past three years, 15 staff members have left, including two of the three women on the teaching faculty. One resigned with a settlement, and one was on a fixed-term contract,’ the paper said.

Amidst the fall-out from the coverage, Oak Hill put out its culture update on November 25 from the chairman of its council, Jeremy Anderson, and from Principal James Robson.

The statement said: ‘Recent articles have raised questions about Oak Hill’s culture. We know that Oak Hill has experienced difficult seasons in recent years, and we are aware of the real pain this has caused for a number of people. We are sincerely saddened by this and remain committed to listening and learning as we move forward. Last week our priority was listening within our community: we held open-forum meetings with all current staff and students, and offered the same opportunity at our Open Morning on Saturday.’

The update said it was ‘not appropriate to comment on individual or private employment matters, given our duty of care and necessary confidentiality’.

But it affirmed: ‘What we can speak to is the work that has been, and continues to be, done to strengthen and shape our culture. When James Robson began as Principal in October 2023, organisational health was identified as a central priority by the College Council – an area in which he brings significant experience. It was widely recognised that the College had faced difficult and well-publicised challenges, and that these needed to be understood and addressed for us to move forward well. Culture is shaped slowly, and we know we are still in that process, but the steps taken are moving us toward a healthier community.’

The statement referred to the Church of England Ministry Council’s Periodic External Review (PER) of the college in 2022:

‘The Church of England’s Periodic External Review noted that the role of Vice-Principal for Faculty was unsustainable and recommended changes. We initially introduced Heads of Department for faculty line management, and with the introduction of Common Awards {the theological education scheme validated by Durham University} moved to a structure with two Vice-Principals, an Assistant Manager (Teaching and Learning) and a Director of Engagement. We also brought in external support to help us understand ourselves better and provide management training.’

Before the update came out, Anglican Ink put the following questions to Oak Hill’s director of engagement, Jonny Reid:

Who was the Vice Principal for Faculty at the time of PER in 2022? Has the apparent overload on this person been a factor in the college’s personnel problems? When was Sleeman appointed Vice Principal and a member of the leadership team alongside Robson, Reid, Tim Ward as a second Vice Principal and Helen Archer-Smith as Director of Operations and Finance?  The update gives no answers.

The other unanswered question relates to the contradictory statements from Sleeman and Sydney Tooth about the way the college handled her bullying allegations. Sleeman told Premier: ‘I take concerns raised against me seriously. The specific allegations from Sydney put to me by Premier that I “bullied her, shouted at other staff members and intimidated students” have been fully investigated by the College and I have been cleared of them.’

Tooth, who left the college last July after negotiating a financial settlement, posted on X on November 20 after the Premier story came out: ‘I also want to note two things. 1. I have NEVER received an apology from Sleeman. Ever. 2. There was no formal process that cleared him. I raised a grievance but had to drop it as a condition of accepting my settlement.’

The question arises: given that Sleeman gave his own statement in the Premier story, why can’t the college comment publicly on whether he has been formally cleared under due process of the bullying allegations against him? Does not the silence rather strongly suggest that Tooth is telling the truth?

Supporters of the college will be hoping that it genuinely can take the necessary steps ‘moving us toward a healthier community’. But questions, particularly over Sleeman, linger. Before becoming Vice Principal, he was a long-standing New Testament lecturer at the college.

Was Sleeman over-promoted after the PER recommendation and found himself struggling in his new role because he lacked the necessary people handling skills? If that is the case, how can the college move on with a struggling Sleeman still a member of its leadership team?

Julian Mann, a former Church of England vicar, is an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire, UK. He was an ordinand at Oak Hill from 1993 to 1996.