Comments on: In memory of Clive Billenness https://churchabuse.uk/2025/02/18/in-memory-of-clive-billeness/ Highlight continuing safeguarding failures by the Church of England and its Archbishops’ Council Sat, 22 Feb 2025 06:44:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: Susan Hunt https://churchabuse.uk/2025/02/18/in-memory-of-clive-billeness/#comment-448 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 06:44:05 +0000 https://churchabuse.uk/?p=394#comment-448 The Monday and Tuesday evenings of Synod week my husband and I spent in the company of Clive. He was very entertaining and it was a most enjoyable time. It was also obvious how vehemently he supported victims and survivors and the depth of his knowledge of safeguarding issues reflected in the debate on Tuesday. We consider it a privelege to have spent that time with him. The badge he is wearing in the photograph above were ones he had made of which he gave me one. I wore in the public gallery. It reads:’I am not a shouty person I AM A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS’. In memory of Clive I shall wear it at the July Synod and continue his publicity. Prayers for Clive, his family, friends and colleagues and especially for victims and survivors.

]]> By: Hugh Sinclair https://churchabuse.uk/2025/02/18/in-memory-of-clive-billeness/#comment-422 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:50:24 +0000 https://churchabuse.uk/?p=394#comment-422 He stood for “Supporting an inclusive church which is free of bullying”.

As does Mr Gavin Drake, also ‘one of the good guys” greatly to be praised for confronting recurrent abuses of power by the church hierarchy. Truly the Voice of a second Reformation of the Church.

On 13.2.25, the Rev.Ian Paul called on Cottrell to step aside. In his statement. Mr Paul drew attention to Cottrell’s treatment of the Bishop of Warrington.

COTTRELL: NOBODY ASKED OR REQUIRED THE BISHOP OF WARRINGTON, [AND] ­CERTAINLY NOT ME … TO TAKE SOME EXTENDED SABBATICAL LEAVE”, ADDING THAT SHE SAID “WHAT SHE NEEDED WAS SPACE”.

RESPONSE FROM BISHOP OF WARRINGTON
TO ANDREW GODDARD

Andrew, thank you for this comprehensive article and for your sensitivity. If I may, I would for the purpose of clarification, like to state that I did not seek to take leave of absence from the diocese of Liverpool. I persistently sought due process to bring this matter to a conclusion. Extended study leave was suggested by the archbishop of York’s office on three occasions as a pastoral response to my formal safeguarding disclosure against the Bishop of Liverpool. At the third suggestion by the Archbishop of York, in mid August 2023, I agreed and commenced the study leave on 7th
September 2023. I would like to add that I remain immensely grateful to the Bishop in Europe who at very short notice, opened up the possibility of a chaplaincy in his diocese.
This would extend to 4 chaplaincies, across 12 months as I awaited a resolution.

]]> By: Opinion – 19 February 2025 | Thinking Anglicans https://churchabuse.uk/2025/02/18/in-memory-of-clive-billeness/#comment-414 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:29 +0000 https://churchabuse.uk/?p=394#comment-414 […] Gavin Drake Church Abuse In memory of Clive Billenness […]

]]> By: Anonymous https://churchabuse.uk/2025/02/18/in-memory-of-clive-billeness/#comment-413 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:33:12 +0000 https://churchabuse.uk/?p=394#comment-413 Sorry to hear of this. He offered meaningful remote support to me, at a time when I was unbelieved and isolated. Rest in Peace.

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