An ongoing row between the Dean of Christ Church and Oxford University dons has escalated following the college’s attempts to distance itself from a theological foundation headed up by one of the Dean’s staunchest allies.
One of the university’s Chancellor has been asked to intervene after Christ Church insisted that The McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics & Public Life remove all references to Christ Church from its website, including the centre’s logo, which has the appearance of the college’s famous Tom Tower.
The centre is headed up by Professor Nigel Biggar, a vocal supporter of the Very Rev Martyn Percy, who presides over the prestigious college and the cathedral.
It comes after 41 members of Christ Church’s governing body wrote to the Charity Commission accusing Dr Percy of “unsound judgement” and “a consistent lack of moral compass” in a bid to have him removed from the Board of Trustees. They also accused him of breaching his legal, fiduciary and safeguarding duties and of leaking confidential material to the press.
.@ChCh_Oxford source tells @CamillaTominey: “The college doesn’t want anything to do with his centre.”
The deed states: “The Fund shall be administered by Christ Church”; “Christ Church..Trustee of the Funds”. It’s signed by a member of the Governing Body.https://t.co/QnYAy9FesR— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) June 12, 2020