Shrewsbury: concerns raised as five Trustees told to leave

Shrewsbury Cathedral

A number of people in Shrewsbury have been voicing their concerns this week, after five Diocesan Trustees were sacked by Bishop Mark Davies.

The dismissals took place around the same time as decisions were being made to cut three paid posts: the co-ordinators of the Youth Service, Marriage and Family Life and Justice & Peace.

Commentators say that the five people who lost their trusteeships (a sixth person resigned in protest), were opposed to cutting these posts. The change means that there are no longer any women on Shrewsbury's board of Trustees. There had been two.
 
A spokesman for the Diocese of Shrewsbury said: “It is with regret the Diocese of Shrewsbury finds itself in a position where it has to consider a small number of redundancies among its employees.

“The proposals are at an early consultation stage and no decisions have been taken as yet. This is very much an internal matter.”

With regard to the Diocesan Trustees, he said: “The term of office of all Trustees expired in October 2011 after a five-year period. Bishop Davies allowed serving Trustees to remain in post and made appointments to the Trustee body to fill vacancies that had arisen.

“A rotational system has since been introduced to both retain both experience and skills and add new strengths as time and circumstances require.

“Following on from this, the longest-serving Trustees were released from their responsibilities in April this year.”

Anne O'Connor, a member of the J&P Commission, (which has now been renamed the Commission for the Promotion of Justice, Peace and Social Responsibility) by Bishop Davies, said: "It appalls and saddens me that a statement could be made on behalf of the Diocese of Shrewsbury which is at odds with the facts. Indeed, none of the dismissed Trustees had any knowledge that a rotational system was about to be introduced and one of them had only served for a short period prior to her dismissal.

"It is very disappointing that Bishop Mark has handled this whole affair in the way that he did and decided to exert his authority by dismissing the Trustees."

"I have thought long and hard about making this statement, but to say nothing is to be complicit."

Source: Shrewsbury Diocese/ICN