The meeting of the Essex members of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament took place at the Hall of St. Augustine’s Church, Rush Green, Romford on Saturday 12th November. Father Christopher Pearson, the Superior-General of the Confraternity, came and took the chair. Fr. Pearson put forward several suggestions of what the future shape of the of CBS might be and these were discussed. He sought to dispel the doubts that many expressed about the future of the Confraternity now that he, the Secretary-General and the Treasurer- General who are all Trustees are also now part of the Ordinariate. He said that we should hold a further meeting to give the Trustees an indication of our opinion on the best way forward on the proposals he had suggested.
There was considerable disquiet about the £1 million grant that the Trustees had made to the Ordinariate and it was generally felt that this was too much and that any gift should have been spread over a period of time. Just as parishes and priests had, in the past, to justify any request for a grant so members of the Ordinariate should be subject to the same discipline.
A proposal was made “that we no longer have confidence in the Trustees” which was seconded but he refused to put this to the vote on the basis that he didn’t consider the meeting properly constituted.
When he left the meeting, the Acting Ward Superior suggested that the Proposal be put and it was passed unanimously. This will be sent to the Charity Commissioners for their consideration.
This is disgraceful behaviour to wait until a meeting has finished, the Charman has departed and then to reconvene and take such a vote is a gross breach of the constitution and of civilised behaviour. Any such vote on such an issue would need to announced in advance so that everyone would be able to decide in full knowledge of the agenda that such business was to be transacted. I am a life member of the CBS and chose not to attend the meeting but most certainly would have done if I had known that such a motion was to be discussed. There are many others like me and this so-called vote has no credibility or validity it was little more than a Kangaroo court!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely pathetic! The trustees acted with integrity and following legal advice! They sought to uphold the objects. And, re your rediculous motion, which trustees do you have no confidence in? All the present trustees? Those who made the grant? Those who made the grant and are members of the ordinariate? You can't even draft a clear motion! Thank God you are not running CBS!
ReplyDeleteFirst, the meeting had not ended. The Superior-General had to leave to attend another appointment and he suggested that the meeting should continue. Those who attended the meeting felt unanimously that they had no confidence in the Trustees and the majority of them are Life Members.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments Rose. Legal advice notwithstanding what about the morality of passing over £1million without consulting the membership. Many of the members are very upset by this and they have a perfect right to express that, which those attending the meeting chose to do. Every member of CBS in Essex received a written invitation to attende the meeting.
Father Mervyn Jennings SSC
Perhaps the answer is for those who feel such lack of confidence to resign and leave the Confraternity!
ReplyDeleteThe trustees have given a grant to a body which can provide a Catholic provision for our children and grandchildren. You seek to keep that money in a church which cannot provide for Catholics for more than a few years. I know which I would call "moral". If anglican priests are going to behave like this then maybe we should all join the Ordinariate now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not seeking to keep the money; as the meeting indicated, the money should have been spread over a period of time rather than donated in a lump sum. As I indicated at the meeting, and reiterate here, I support the Ordinariate and appreciate the financial problems that they have. As far as I can ascertain, in the past, CBS grants have been made for specific purposes i.e. the Altar at Walsingham, Christ Our Future and of course, to individual parishes for Tabernacles, Vestments, Monstrances etc. I can see no reason why Ordinariate members of CBS should not follow the same path and make individual application for grants. And I can see no reason why these should not be granted if the reason for the application is in keeping with the principles of CBS. It could also be appropriate for the Ordinariate to apply for grants for specific purposes.
ReplyDeleteIt is not the role of associates (you are not members) of the Confraternity to make decisions like this. It is the role of those elected to that office, i.e. the trustees. They were duly elected, and they have exercised their office in keeping with the laws which govern that office, therefore they have, de facto, acted in a moral way. I don't know if it's the woeful level of theology or the complete lack of knowledge of the law which is most distressing here.
ReplyDeleteAs with many associates, there is only one elected (see CBS website) Trustee that I have confidence with. Fr Mervyn gives balanced and fair comment. It is not for associates to resign en mass if they have no confidence in the trustees, quite the opposite. I agree also that the grant should have been handed over a period of time, with the same qualifications as otherapplicants. It should also have been proportionate to the level of associates that have joined. Sadly this has caused damage to the Ordinariate as well as CBS. And how can we have a Society where most of the members are not in communion with the few that have so far joined the ORdinariate?
ReplyDeleteLack of communion has been a feature of the CofE since 1992. The Ordinariate is a dramatic new development. You seem to be keen to point out the difficulty of having a Confraternity in which full communion is not possible and yet happy to remain in the CofE where Erm well, Sally is a Priest. There is no doubt whatsoever about the Orders of Fr Pearson et al yet the CofE says that your orders are the same as the Rev Sally in the next door parish. Next year Rev Sally may well becom Rt Rev Sally, so wake up, smell the coffee and rejoice that the Trustees have had the foresight to help secure an ecclesial future in the Anglican Tradition for our Children and Grandchildren!
ReplyDelete