Vicar angry at having to retire early

Press, 11 May 1989, Page 3

Vicar angry at having to retire early

PA Wellington A dispute over finances between the Lyall Bay vicar, the Rev. David Edgar, and Wellington Anglican authorities has led to the vicar saying he is being forced into early retirement. Mr Edgar, aged 56, said in a newsletter to parishioners that he was a “fall guy” in a parish hard hit by Rogernomics. He and his family had been tried and condemned by a body which took upon itself to be accuser, prosecutor, judge, and jury. The vicar-general of the diocese, the Rt Rev. Hapai Winiata, responding to Mr Edgar’s allegations in the absence of Archbishop Brian Davis, Bishop of Wellington, said: “I know the Archbishop spent a lot of time over many months talking with Mr Edgar and church officers ... I know every consideration was given to him and his family. “The Church doesn’t take these decisions lightly and I feel sad that Mr Edgar was constrained to say the things he has.” In his newsletter, Mr Edgar noted that the population of Wellington’s eastern suburbs had aged in recent years and there was a decline in earnings. “The diocesan standing committee supposed that because average disposable income in New Zealand increased last year by anything up to 10 per cent or so, average income in the lowest-earning areas must have done so too,” he said.

“They’ve told your vicarage family that they must go on one month’s notice expiring May 19.” Mr Edgar said he was not legally responsible for finances of the parish — that fell on the wardens and the vestry. In November, when they and he were deeply concerned about financial pressure on the parish — having to pay just under $lOOO a month in levies to diocesan authorities — he approached diocesan officials. Instead of bread he was given “a stone,” he said. So parishioners agreed to suspend the payment of levies until some response was received. “This was not my idea, it was theirs. I sympathised with it but warned that a fall guy would be sought,” he said in the newsletter. A deputation from the Anglican standing committee met Lyall Bay parishioners on January 31 and urged those present, including several pensioners, to “get off their backsides ... and get out and sell Christianity,” Mr Edgar said. “Two members of this deputation presented insulting and demeaning reports to the standing committee ... I was summoned to the Bishop’s office and told that my ministry in Lyall Bay was at an end.” The retiring age for priests is 60 but they can continue to 65. Wellington Diocesan authorities offered him the early retirement package “with financial compensations.” Had he not taken it, he said, his ministry licence would have been terminated after six months notice.