Church Demons

Don't panic, this isn't a highly Christian and the world's ending post 😉😅🤣

The past 18 months have been spiritually turbulent. Our two sister churches appointed a new priest-in-charge, but the newfound optimism, growth, and unity quickly disappeared.

As previously posted, this position fostered evangelical ableism, but anti-LGBTQ+ sexism, division, and lies also occurred.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-6 emulates the experience:

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour . . . Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are. If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offences to rest. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions."

Our new Reverend wanted to "shake up" practises, cut bad, and encourage good. However, Simon was different. His presumptions were misguided and outdated; what he deemed good was foolish. For example, Hannah and I managed the church's social media. After 18 months, our church accounts—especially Instagram—went global, reaching 30,000 people, but he, disinterested, found it meaningless, favouring a new website without grasping social media’s impact. So, discarded, the accounts slowly died, going from 500+ interactions to 20. Then more happened.

Discussions with parents regarding ‘correct sexuality education’ began, disagreeing Youth workers were shut down, and children were deemed ‘too noisy’ in our family-friendly setting. Women were patronised in sermons; transphobic beliefs, naming the priest directly, were found on Wikipedia; witnesses with prior negative experiences gave statements; and those working with him quit and left the churches. Finally, spiritual and generalised ableism occurred, with one person used as a joke, and, while demons and evil spirits were disabilities causes, disabled followers were blamed for the absence of healing for "lacking faith." These, combined in a complaint, were forwarded to the diocese.

Then he abandoned us.

Vague reasons filtered through, but it appeared as ‘they don’t want me, so I don’t want them’ and ‘I can’t do what I want streamed live and/or reported. So they can go’. Nonetheless, an announcement of separation was made. However, when it came to our sister church, he lied, avoided blame, and promoted it as ‘OUR option and independence.’

This one-sided propaganda wasn’t surprising. He unjustly painted those from his previous position as ‘mentally ill’ when they disagreed with him. Now it was our turn to fit his self-serving narrative.

Then nothing happened for months. No turning the other cheek, renewal, forgiveness, growth through reflection, or maturity—nothing you’d expect from a Christian, let alone a priest. Apparently, ‘healing time’ was needed, but that didn’t work; he didn’t get what he wanted, so he resigned.

It wasn’t necessarily good. Many saw him as a blessing who changed a toxic atmosphere, brought life to faith, and supported the wider community. Although this shows the division, it might also reflect what a person knew of the above and had experienced. I might be happy, but many are emotionally mixed with the new period of uncertainty coming without a leading priest.

I have no regrets. I approached him twice with my problems. When that failed, I wrote and emailed my three ableism posts and requested a meeting. Then, as is appropriate, I contacted the diocese. We did meet and air issues, but when discussing his problems, he reclined, crossed his arms, and became petulant. I followed the process. It’s how issues should be resolved. Yet, to ease problems, and unlike the above verse, Hannah and I left our church.

Yet his church blocked all my social media accounts. Then, concurrently, my Instagram was reported and taken down, and new accounts were barred. I have no proof, but within 24 hours of creating an unconnected account, I was reported and blocked again. Demonstrating, at least, that I was observed and removed. It was unnecessary. Like dead flies poisoning what I loved, he discarded our church, blocked me, and misrepresented the truth.

I never wanted harm. If I had, I would have done something more. My blogging accounts have a big enough following to draw attention, as I did with many causes. I have, over the years, acquired journalistic friends locally and nationally. Notwithstanding, prior to their deletion, I downloaded the video sermons of his wrongdoings in case proof was needed. I have even given the church and him anonymity here by removing or changing names in this and other posts. All of which could have made life difficult, but I didn’t. That would have harmed not only him but his family, our sister church, our congregation, and individuals that I love dearly.

Furthermore, I hoped stability and harmony would be re-established, yet while dead flies linger, friends report dismissiveness and division within our parish. Our community activities are lifeless, positive actions are vague, and attendance between both congregations has declined, potentially permanently now that members have chosen new churches. The damage has been done, and all I can do is pray for renewed unity and time to heal.

We’re told that he’s leaving in the next few weeks, despite no direct date being given. Hopefully, once he finally leaves, we can look forward again, work together, and highlight the good that we do, but only time will tell.