A Dundee cleric has been forced out of his Broughty Ferry parish after concerns were raised over the running of the church, its finances, his controlling behaviour and the “poisoned” atmosphere among the congregation.
A worshipper told The Courier that the Rev Jonathan Bower who has been rector at St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Broughty Ferry for almost two years announced his resignation to the shocked congregation on Sunday.
His departure, the man said, was announced by Mr Bower from the pulpit, and was brought about by “continued personal attacks on his sexuality.”
Claims have also been made over the “parlous” state of the finances of the church by some members, who, the parishioner said, were “small-minded” and “homophobic.”
Mr Bower is also accused of deriding congregation members from the pulpit, branding some of them “tomb dwellers,” characterising one member as “a flesh-eating virus” and abusing others on a social networking site.
The row came after a campaign to oust him by disgruntled members of the vestry and the congregation, who had raised concerns with the diocese over “missing” funds totalling around £55,000 which had been earmarked for the restoration of the church organ.
The “ring-fenced” money, the vestry members say, was instead frittered away on the day-to-day running costs of the church actions they say have been reported to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regular (OSCR) in Dundee.
Five members of the vestry were also behind an open letter to the congregation in which they detail aspects of his behaviour including padlocking the organ to prevent anyone other than the director of music ministry playing it.
According to Dr Steve Woodward, one of the letter’s authors, the clergyman had also branded him “homophobic,” a term he dismissed as “ridiculous,” adding that he would have “exactly the same concerns” whatever his sexuality.Relieved”I don’t want to sound triumphalist now that we’ve got what we wanted and he has gone, but we are all relieved and it really is for the good of St Mary’s,” Mr Woodward said.
“I’ve been threatened with defamation in court over this. Several members of the vestry have resigned or been manoeuvred off and there’s only two left.
“We discovered there was only one signatory for the cheques, the treasurer, which is never good for clarity of the accounts. Accountants from Glasgow have now been brought in to re-audit the books, so we’ll see what that brings.”
They also questioned the need to spend £30,000 on the rectory while the finances were in such a “parlous” state.
The authors stated, “In the view of the majority of the vestry the atmosphere at St Mary’s has been poisoned.
“Congregational numbers, after an initial increase, are falling, some former members of the congregation complain that they have been made to feel so uncomfortable that they needed to leave.”
The letter also claims the church’s mission is in disarray.
“The music is in ruins with a non-existent choir and the organ has been padlocked and banned from use except by the director of music ministry,” it states.
“The organ is frequently replaced with a piano for accompaniment at services, which is not part of our history or tradition. All this has been done without consultation with the vestry.”RegulatorThe authors add that, in order to comply with the law, OSCR has been contacted about unsatisfactory financial accountancy practices.
The members point out that following an extremely positive, innovative and exciting start to his rectorship in 2009, relations between Mr Bower and certain members of the vestry had quickly soured due to his “obsession with total control” and “bad temper and fierce resentment” towards any alternative view being expressed.
However, one congregation member who asked not to be named came to the cleric’s defence, claiming the behaviour of the disgruntled members was “ridiculous” and “misguided.”
“I think most people know him as a lovely man who has been great for the parish and the congregation.
“Some very misguided people have forced him out and yet he has had such a positive effect on a lot of people’s lives and some vulnerable people have been left now without spiritual guidance.
A Scottish Episcopal Church spokeswoman said, “The acting bishop of the diocese, the Rt Rev Dr Robert Gillies, has received and accepted the Rev Jonathan Bower’s resignation and has sent him a message of good wishes on his new appointment.
“The bishop will be in touch with the vestry of the congregation to work out arrangements for ministry at St Mary’s once the vacancy begins (which is expected to be mid-April).”
Attempts to contact Mr Bower have proved unsuccessful.