Another interruption to the scattercast

I posted some months ago On May 10th, in fact, that I was no longer practising as a priest or preacher. While I could not say anything much at that time, it followed on my dismissal, technically "deprivation", as Dean of Waiapu.

This announcement from the Bishop of Waiapu makes it clear that the imposition of deprivation was errant. With reference to the canons (laws) of the Church under which I was dismissed/deprived in May, the Appeals Tribunal of the New Zealand Anglican Church determined:

(a) that in interpreting the Canon to include an obligation to disclose misconduct to a licensing Bishop, Bishop Hedge made an error of law;

(b) that in imposing an outcome where there was no misconduct Bishop Hedge made another error of law by acting ultra vires;

(c) that in the event the canon could have been interpreted as imposing an obligation to disclose, Bishop Hedge acted on wrong principle in that in breach of minimum standards of procedure he failed to put that allegation to Dr Godfrey;

(d) that in the event the canon could have been interpreted as imposing an obligation to disclose, Bishop Hedge acted further on wrong principle in that he moved to determination and the imposition of outcome without either first referring the matter to a Tribunal of Determination for findings or receiving from Dr Godfrey a formal admission in writing of misconduct

I have however decided to look at alternative options for the future, so these sermon-reflections will, with the exception of a sermon in mid-January when I conduct a farewell service at the cathedral, continue to be retrospective for the foreseeable future.

I shall shortly pick up the practice of non-sermon reflections on my currently dormant Pivotal Pokes Blog ... which may be a little less restrained!