@KeepHavingFun I have managed to copy and paste:
Bishop cannot call for Soul Survivor independent inquiry over threat of 'disciplinary action'
Angry victims say 'self-policing by the church has clearly failed’
By
Gabriella Swerling,
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS EDITOR
16 June 2023 • 6:31pm
A bishop has suggested he cannot call for an independent investigation into the Soul Survivor scandal because he fears being punished by church authorities.
The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, said that he is “constrained” by the threat of “disciplinary action” according to notes from a summit meeting within the diocese seen by this newspaper.
His comments come in response to mounting pressure from victims – and now his own congregants – asking him to call for the Church of England to commission an independent investigation into Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, 65, and his Soul Survivor church and festivals.
The calls come after earlier this year The Telegraph revealed allegations surrounding the vicar, who founded the Soul Survivor Watford church and its popular namesake youth festivals, which ran from 1993 to 2019 and attracted around 30,000 teenagers from all over the world each summer.
It was claimed that he ran “a cult” in which a “conveyor belt” of attractive young men – usually around aged 18 to 21 – were encouraged to receive full-body oil massages on his bed, engage in vigorous wrestling matches and endure spiritual torment and psychological torment. Victims also claimed that the Christian youth festival founder has “left a trail of broken, young male adults scattered all around the world”.
As a result of the allegations, Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi was suspended from Soul Survivor Watford, in Hertfordshire, while the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and the Diocese of St Albans continue to carry out an investigation into the allegations.
Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi was suspended from Soul Survivor Watford CREDIT: Soul Survivor
Victims ‘do not trust church to mark its own homework’
Victims have already sounded the alarm claiming that they do not “trust the church to mark its own homework” and two pastors who stepped up to cover Rev Canon Pilavachi following his suspension, were themselves suspended just weeks later over allegations they failed to act on concerns.
Now the bishop, whose diocese covers the Soul Survivor Watford church, has been asked by members of his own congregation to pressure the Church of England into formally launching an investigation carried out by professionals from outside the institution.
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However, he said that he cannot because speaking out during an ongoing internal church investigation would mean failing to comply with church regulations, and this “may result in disciplinary action” for him. Victims and their advocates have responded that they do not have “faith in the process” following his comments, and that a lack of independent scrutiny “looks to most people like a cover up”.
The bishop’s remarks came in response to a written question submitted to the St Albans Diocesan Synod, a process in which clergy and lay congregants gather to discuss important matters of faith three times a year, by Canon Peter Adams, deputy lay chair of Luton Deanery. Both the question and answer were submitted for Saturday’s summit, where follow-up questions can be asked.
The Rt Revd Dr Alan said: “I want to fully acknowledge that some within the diocese and beyond may be feeling conflicted, upset, concerned or angry by what you have read about the investigation into Mike Pilavachi.
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“I also acknowledge that these feelings may be exacerbated since we are limited in our ability to respond to ongoing reporting in traditional and social media due to the constraints of the investigation. Where possible, updates are provided in conjunction with the NST.
“At the same time, I must assure you of our commitment to support anyone affected by this situation, particularly those who are coming forward with information. We are equally committed to the principle that the investigation must be fair to all parties.”
‘Constrained’ by church Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure
He added that as a Diocesan bishop he is “constrained” by the church rule of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
Under this measure all authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and parochial church councillors must have “due regard” to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops. “Failure by clergy to comply with the duty imposed by the 2016 Measure may result in disciplinary action,” he added.
According to guidance issued by the House of Bishops, it is only for the Church’s Core Group which handles a safeguarding case to make the recommendation that it be handled by an independent inquiry.
“If I was to call for an independent enquiry at this stage and without such a recommendation, I would be outside of House of Bishops’ Guidance and would risk prejudicing the outcome of the current investigation,” the bishop added.
“In particular, I am conscious that issuing calls now about the shape of the next stage of any response might cause confusion as to the processes currently underway and the support available now.”
The Canon had asked the bishop to work with the church to establish an independent inquiry regarding “this very sad situation so as to ensure justice for all impacted, and a full understanding of what has gone wrong”.
The question also comes amid calls from members of General Synod, the Church of England’s law-making body which will meet again next month, for a private members motion calling for allegations of abuse surrounding Rev Canon Pilavachi to be investigated by an independent King’s Counsel.
In response to the bishop’s comments, one of Pilavachi’s victims who first spoke out regarding the claims of abuse, said: “The effectiveness and implementation of any safeguarding and disciplinary measure requires the commitment and diligence of individuals involved and the continuous evaluation and improvement of policies and procedures.
“This clearly hasn’t happened. The Church of England has faced criticism and scrutiny over its handling of cases involving allegations of abuse and misconduct, even since the 2016 measure. So I have no reason to place any faith in this process.”
‘Self-policing by the church has clearly failed’
Richard Scorer, an abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon who is acting for some of the Soul Survivor complainants, said: “Clearly there is some support within the diocese for a fully independent investigation and as Camon Adams rightly highlights, nobody can have confidence in an internal Church of England investigation because this would be the church marking its own homework yet again.
“Self-policing by the church has clearly failed and the allegations relating to Soul Survivor over a long period are themselves evidence of this. I call on the Church of England to accept the clear need for a fully independent investigation, and to take steps right away to put it in hand so that confidence can be restored. An Attempt to resist an independent investigation looks to most people like a cover up.”
A spokesman for the Diocese of St Albans said: “The Diocese of St Albans is committed to supporting anyone affected by the investigation into the Revd Canon Mike Pilavachi. We strongly encourage anyone with information to contact the diocesan or national safeguarding teams, or to speak to the Safe Spaces helpline.
“In response to a formal question asked by a member of St Albans Diocesan Synod, Bishop Alan explained how under UK Law and the House of Bishops safeguarding guidance he cannot at present support calls for an independent enquiry into the investigation until it has been completed.”
A Church of England spokesperson said: “The investigation is being conducted jointly by the diocese of St Albans and NST according to House of Bishops Guidance.
“We cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, to be fair to all parties and support is being offered to all involved. Anyone who comes forward to the investigation will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.”