An evangelical vicar has had his suspension for ministry lifted after five weeks.
The Revd Stephen Kuhrt, vicar of Christ Church, New Malden was suspended in June this year after he disclosed confidential safeguarding information with a small group of advisors. He did so after blowing the whistle on alleged mishandling of historic safeguarding issues. He admitted failing to redact the names of individuals in the documentation, for which he accepted rebuke and injunction.
Although the suspension was lifted on 29 July by the Bishop of Southwark, church wardens said in a statement that ‘within minutes’ of the lifting of Kuhrt’s suspension, there was ‘a demand that we restart a review of safeguarding in our parish on terms that increase our concerns about both its nature and its purpose’.
The wardens, who welcomed the return of Kuhrt to church life, said the diocese has ‘weaponised safeguarding to punish Stephen for whistleblowing’ – and that its response has been ‘wholly disproportionate’.
A review into Christ Church’s affairs began in Spring 2020 and is ongoing. However, the wardens said they have been ‘frustrated’ in their attempts to establish the necessary clarity and transparency required by the process.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Southwark told the Church Times that it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment on what is an ongoing matter.
Kuhrt has long expressed concerns about the handling of safeguarding in the diocese of Southwark and has argued for a change in culture within the Church of England.
