A well-known conservative evangelical minister has resigned.
The resignation of Paul Williams, who was vicar of Christ Church, Fulwood, in Sheffield, came after a ‘visitation’ commissioned by two bishops at the invitation of the Church Council and Mr Williams himself.
The two bishops – the conservative evangelical Bishop of Maidstone, Rod Thomas, and Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox – have indicated their support for the decision to resign.
Rod Thomas said the aims of the visitation had been ‘to hear and articulate the concerns that have been expressed about leadership and people management by those employed or in office at Christ Church, Fulwood, since January 2017; to hear and articulate responses to these concerns from those who have line-management responsibilities at Christ Church, Fulwood; to identify the issues that need to be addressed arising out of this enquiry and to make recommendations to the bishops’.
The church has an average Sunday attendance of more than 1,000 adults and children, and has helped plant four new churches since 2009.
In an email seen by en, Rod Thomas stressed that Paul Williams ‘was not forced to resign; it was his decision alone – and both the Bishop of Sheffield and I support him in this’.
Church assistant minister Peter Scamman said some congregation members were ‘concerned for him and the family’ while others had ‘been left feeling hurt by their experience of his leadership’.
