Some may find the content of this article distressing.
Former Christchurch Durham pastor Tony Jones has resigned from his US pastorate shortly after being handed a petition calling for his removal. He was in post for just 16 months – and several other church leaders resigned shortly after as well.
It is the latest development in the long-running story around Jones, who left Christchurch Durham (CCD) – an independent Anglican church – at the end of 2021: this was followed by several allegations of misconduct, bullying and financial irregularities.
On Sunday 2 April 2023, a petition signed by 108 out of around 340 church members called for both Tony Jones and associate pastor Michael Nowling to step down. It was presented to Jones and posted publicly in the church. A congregational meeting was called for 23 April at which a decision would be made about Jones’s future.
After being faced with the petition, Jones reportedly reacted with silence. One long-standing church member told en: ‘He preached on Sunday [9 April] and then went straight into his office and closed the door.’ Jones and Nowling resigned on 11 April.
Hours before the resignations, our source told en that concerns had repeatedly been raised: ‘We tried to talk to Tony but he wouldn’t hear it … Anyone who questioned him heard nothing from him. Some elders tried to talk to him too until there was no point.’
Despite being head pastor at Immanuel Leidy’s Church since January 2021, the church’s website has never included a profile for Jones. The website still lists two pastors – Steve Myers and Michael Nowling. However, Myers is reported to have resigned in October for reasons en does not yet know.
On 17 April, the church issued the following statement: ‘Leidy’s Church will have no comment on the internal affairs of the Church, which have been and are being effectively dealt with by the Church.’
It would appear the church was not informed of any issues pertaining to allegations surrounding Jones during and following his tenure at CCD. For example, in July 2022 en received an email from a member asking questions, because, they said, ‘I’m trying to decide whether to stay at Leidy’s or resign’.
One of en’s sources suggested some elders were evidently aware of issues surrounding Jones’ departure from Durham – but added that Jones shrugged it off as ‘trouble-making’. Since February 2022, en has tried to make contact with Jones several times, and also with Steve Myers and the church via its office email, but has never received any response or acknowledgement.
Meanwhile, an internal review into Tony Jones’ conduct at CCD has been completed but has not been published. en has been told that the elders have decided not to publish because Jones has threatened legal action.
