Festus
Images of the martyred St Sebastian often present a muscular male torso, tied to a tree or pillar, and pierced with numerous arrows. But such a holy depiction was not what did for the Rev Michael Todd. He fell into the trap of ‘liking’ graven images on Twitter showing male nudity and a bit more besides, adding comments and hashtags too. Southwark Diocese PR officer Rev Cn Wendy Robins was monitoring the Twitter feeds of local clergy in search of good news to ‘share’ and promote. Coming across Todd’s interest in naked men posts, she showed them to her Archdeacon (Jane Steen, now Bishop of Lynn) and a CDM ensued. Then a tribunal, where Todd pleaded he was ‘appreciating naturism’, and the posts were over two years in the past. He was found guilty of misconduct and subject to ‘an official rebuke’. But the tribunal also had ‘concerns about the haste with which proceedings were initiated and the absence of engagement before proceedings were started’. And this in the ultra-liberal, diverse Diocese of Southwark! Matthew 7.1 for some reconciliatory Bible Study.
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Many clergy will say that emergency baptism is a very bittersweet duty. It usually involves grabbing book, stole and oil and rushing to a maternity ward. But it was a novel justification used by the Rev Clive Evans in defending himself last December. He had received a request during breakfast from a family to perform a baptism later in the day, but as he was due to go on holiday at the same time, he went immediately, stripped to his boxer shorts and performed the necessary rite using the bath for full immersion. After complaints brought it to a tribunal, the panel disagreed it was an emergency (no ‘imminent danger of death’ or ‘extreme urgency which might conceivably be imagined to justify a state of semi-nakedness’). The unanimous conclusion was that Evans had ‘engaged in conduct unbecoming or inappropriate to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders’. He has been suspended from ministry by the Diocese of Hereford for six months. There’s a lot to be said for holding ceremonies in church, and keeping your cassock on.
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What is it with Old Etonians and the law? Boris Johnson was issued with a fine on Holy Tuesday for the lockdown parties. The day after, Archbishop Welby said he still thinks the Rustat Memorial in Jesus College, Cambridge, should go. The Ely Deputy Chancellor ruled the proposal had not been ‘sufficiently clearly justified…and founded upon a mistaken understanding’.
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Pope Francis has granted the title of Monsignor to (Bishop) Michael Nazir-Ali. ‘Michael has worked for Christian unity throughout his ministry and supported the Ordinariate, albeit from outside it, since its erection in 2011,’ said fellow former Anglican Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinariate’s Ordinary. He is surely the first Roman Catholic monsignor to have laid hands on a woman in ordination to the priesthood, as he then understood it. We are all on a journey indeed, and some very much more than others.
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Titles are tricky things. Rowan Williams was elevated to the peerage upon finishing as the Archbishop of Canterbury, like his predecessors, becoming Baron Williams of Oystermouth. So he is the Rt Revd Lord; and archbishop is a job title so reverts to bishop within the threefold order. He’s also a Privy Counselor (so Rt Hon) and a professor too, which gets lost in the mix, although does give a choice of styles that can be matched like hats to audience or occasion. And he is habitually introduced or referred to as Archbishop anyway (not always his preference). On a visit to Ukraine last month, he introduced himself as ‘Archbishop’ to a small group which honoured his hosts and reflects the trend for holding onto the form, much like US presidents who continue to be ‘Mr President’ for life as a courtesy title. It relates, they claim, to the office and not the man.
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Richard Coles is always introduced as ‘The Reverend Richard Coles’. Now retired from St Mary the Virgin, Finedon, he hopes to remain active in ministry in Chichester diocese, and will surely keep his broadcasting hand in. (Is there any show he hasn’t been on?) But please someone give him a stall. In Many ways he took over from RC Father Brian Darcy, and before that was much-loved national treasure Canon Roger Royle. ‘Canon Coles’ has a nice ring.
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The Church of England comms team excelled itself last month. Posting daily on Instagram during Holy Week it followed Maundy Thursday and Good Friday with ‘Easter Saturday’ (on Holy Saturday) and on Easter Monday the post and picture caption was ‘Acsension Day’ [sic] with ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus’ Story’. Literacy, even religious, is clearly not necessary at Church House