Te Puke vicar dismissed

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33463, 19 February 1974, Page 14

Te Puke vicar dismissed

TAURANGA, February 18. The vicar of Te Puke, the Hev. W. H. Gregory, has had his licence as vicar revoked by the Bishop of Waiapu (the Rt Rev. P. A. Reeves). This was announced at the Communion service yesterday morning in a letter from Bishop Reeves, read to the parishioners who filled the small church by Archdeacon D. T. Ferguson. The Bishop said in bis letter that in accordance with the constitution of the Anglican Church in New Zealand he was terminating Mr Gregory’s licence as vicar of Te Puke.

He said that he wished to

I provide for the future care of Mr Gregory, and intended to discuss the matter with him. He asked Archdeacon Ferguson to arrange for the care of the church in Te Puke and the running of services.

Mr Gregory has been vicar of Te Puke for 10 years. In a statement today, he said the Bishop had stated no reason for having revoked his licence.

“The usual reasons which would warrant the revocation of a clergyman’s licence are immorality, heresy, physical ! incapacity, or senility, bur the Bishop has not stated which of these I have comimitted,” Mr Gregory said. “Since August of last year the Bishop has tried several methods to have me removed from Te Puke The original reason was declared to have been due to the weakness of I the parish finances. Shortly afterward the finances im- | proved considerably, but this I altered situation in no way the Bishop's intention. Other methods were then employed." Mr Gregory said he had been told that his stipend would be terminated at the end of February, and no finIcial compens’tion had been iffered to him. “Parishioners ki>-,w that I am a person of independent! 'udgment. and that I have) always felt it my ■ responsibility to speak my mind ■netilv and honestly on moral and social issues,” he said “Above all. I have endeavoured to serve al) the parish- : -oners and minister to them it ’heir point of need.” Hishon Reeves said in a , statement issued in Welling-

ton this afternoon that it was his assessment that the Te Puke parochial district would benefit from a change of vicar.

“In this I have been supported by the standing committee of the diocese of Waiapu," he said. “There have been discussions with the Rev. W. H. Grjgory over the last six months. Adequate financial provision, the protection of pension rights, and accom-

modation were ottered to him in the eventuality of his retirement.

Only last month Mr Gregory was also offered an alternative parish, but he declined.

“I regret the pain that has come on all the concerned parties and I still hope that Mr Gregory will come and talk with the standing committee of the diocese concerning his future.” Bishop Reeves added.