Pressure is mounting on Church of England authorities to take action against the principal of an Oxford theological college accused of alienating staff.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, is being urged to withdraw his support for the Rev Richard Turnbull, the principal of Wycliffe Hall, who has been criticised for his allegedly abrasive management style and conservative brand of Christianity.
Alister McGrath, a leading theologian and Wycliffe’s previous principal, has pulled out of delivering a prestigious lecture in Liverpool in protest at the lack of action by Bishop Jones, who is the chairman of the hall’s governing council.
Is he abrasive, or does he just show true grit?
I think it’s very significant that A McGrath, along with his wife, is behaving in this way. They must think things are very wrong. Their thoughts are to be given weight because they are not themselves ‘liberal’.
Wilfred,
He is a bit abrasive – without the same academic backbone which McGrath has to get away with it. Secondly, McGrath was well respected by his peers. His vision, style and notoriety both in the wider Oxford community and elsewhere were well respected. You may not agree with McGrath but he’s earned respect in the academic community from friends and foes.
Its difficult to have to follow McGrath. It’s even more difficult when you come in with a different style (deadly when its abrasive) and agenda. I think the best thing for Turnbull to do at this point is to tone down his act and focus his energies on ensuring strong scholarship at Wycliffe. Fortunately for the school, the students seem to score very well on exams when compared to students from other halls and colleges reading in theology.
One always tries to deal with issues rather than personalities, but I wonder if this one isn’t about personalities.
I think it probably is, but I think its also about whether Wycliffe is going to be broadly evangelical like Ridley or St John’s, or narrowly conservative like Oak Hill.
Interesting point MM.