06th February 2012

David Bruton OSNU

 

It is with great regret that I have to inform you of the resignation from membership of Minister Margaret Preece from the South Western District Council. Margaret has served both Spiritualism and the Union over many years and I know her to be a principled and honourable lady, who has certainly contributed much to the Ministry since her ordination in 2008. Every attempt was made to ask Margaret to reconsider her decision and, knowing her, I am sure she has not arrived at this decision lightly; sadly, she feels unable to continue in her present role within the Union, which will be a great loss to her Church in Paignton, the District, the Union, the wider movement and especially her Ministry, which has taken her into her local Inter-faith group and educational establishments in and around the Paignton area.

 

Complaints arising from Paignton Church have suggested that the Union has not acted correctly in dealing with the actions of the Church Committee. Investigations, as part of the complaints procedure, have revealed that the actions the Committee took to remove one of its number were in fact outside the provision of the Rules for Churches and so on appeal the member was reinstated. The Rules are provided to protect both the Church and its individual members and if they are followed they afford both protection and natural justice for all parties involved and a fair hearing which affords everybody their right to express their opinions. The very nature of complaints involves both the actions and feelings of individuals and once the process has been satisfactorily completed it should be closed and people move on. It is neither fair nor appropriate to either party to re-rehearse the issues surrounding a complaint on the floor of a general meeting or in any other forum considered suitable by those with an axe to grind who are unhappy with the outcome.

 

A working party was established late last year to look at our current complaints procedure and recommendations have been made to the National Executive Committee which will be implemented when the necessary support systems and training have been put in place. However, this will not in any way change the underlying principles of a system which seeks to deal fairly with all parties to a complaint and provide them with the right to a fair hearing operated within the constitution of both the Union and its Churches and the provisions of the legal system here in the United Kingdom.

 

In conclusion, I would like to wish Margaret well for the future, confident that her knowledge and philosophy of Spiritualism will both inform and support her in all her future endeavours.

 

David Bruton OSNU, President