Arbroath Town Mission’s former manager has told an employment tribunal why she took action over membership changes which she described as “quite wrong”.
Wilma Swankie raised concerns with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) over the mission’s constitution, following a difference of opinion over membership and voting rights.
The former centre manager is taking legal action, claiming she was fired in July 2017 for going to the charities watchdog and making protected disclosures.
She had been a vocal opponent of a requirement that members of the Town Mission must belong to the church fellowship.
Miss Swankie also raised concerns about an application process whereby membership would be determined by the pastor and elders or board.
Miss Swankie told the tribunal there had never been a specific membership policy in all the time she was connected to the mission.
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“If people wanted to come for whatever reason, whether it be spiritual or social, then they would be members,” she said.
“It was for anybody and everybody and that’s the heart of a mission – to include everybody.”
She said it was for God to know what people aspired to be as Christians and not something that could be settled by signing a document.
“I know that there was a document given to people who wanted to sign up for church membership,” she said.
“I would have considered it rules and regulations and that’s why I say I don’t think any one of us can fully agree and fully comply with rules and regulations because none of us are perfect.”
Miss Swankie said the “spiritual membership” changes were proposed by the directors as the mission was converting to charity status and she was concerned about the “handing over of powers” and “the manner in which it was going forward”.
Miss Swankie said: “There was to be no vote given to the members of the different groups who attended regularly.
“Only people who signed up to the church could become town mission members – I felt that was quite wrong because the members of the centre were not asking to interfere in church matters.”
Miss Swankie said she took legal advice and was advised to contact the charities watchdog OSCR.
“I didn’t bring the board into disrepute,” she said.
“I stated my concerns and sought clarity on certain points.”
Arbroath Town Mission started in 1830 and currently operates as a church fellowship and a community centre.
The tribunal continues.
