Anthony Priddis

Anthony Martin Priddis (born March 15, 1948 ) is a British Anglican clergyman . He was Bishop of Hereford in the Church of England from 2004 to September 2013 .

life and career

Priddis attended the Watford Grammar School for Boys in Watford , Hertfordshire from 1959 to 1965 . From 1966 to 1969 he studied natural sciences with a focus on biochemistry at Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge and completed his studies with an MA . In preparation for the priesthood he attended the Ripon Theological College in Cuddesdon from 1969 to 1972 . At the same time he studied theology at New College at the University of Oxford from 1971 to 1972 , where he graduated with a diploma in theology and a Master of Arts .

He was ordained a deacon in 1972 and a priest in 1973 . From 1972 to 1975 he was an assistant vicar at St Edward's Church in New Addington . He then worked at Christ Church College, University of Oxford from 1975 to 1980 as a student pastor ( College Chaplain ).

From 1980 to 1986, Priddis was Dean ( Team Vicar ) of St John's in High Wycombe . From 1986 to 1996 he worked as a senior pastor ( priest-in-charge ), then as rector of the Amersham parish . From 1992 he was also Land Dean of Amersham. From 1995 to 1996 he was an honorary member of the cathedral chapter ( Honorary Canon ) at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.

From 1996 to 2004 he was suffragan bishop of Warwick . In 2004 he became Bishop of Hereford . In late September 2013 he retired as Bishop of Hereford.

During his church career, Priddis also held numerous other offices in church organizations, charitable institutions and other bodies. From 1986 to 1996 he was the asset manager, trustee and chairman of Amersham United Charities . At the same time he was chairman of the board of directors of two schools. In 1988 he was a founding member of the Chilterns Hundred Housing Association and served on its board of directors until 1992. From 2002 to 2005 he was a member of the West Midlands Cultural Consortium . From 2003 to 2006 he was vice chairman of the Family Life and Marriage Education (FLAME) Network . From 2001 to 2006 he also worked there as an asset manager and trustee. Since 2002, Priddis has also been a member and chairman of the Central Safeguarding Liaison Group in the Church of England . From 2002 to 2008 he was elected as the first layperson to the Board of Directors of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine (FAEM). In 2004 he was made an Honorary Fellow there. Since 2004 he has also been the asset manager and trustee of the Eveson Charitable Trust in Gloucester . Since 2006 he has succeeded Graham Richard James as chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Rural Issues ( Rural Bishops Panel ).

Priddis is married. His wife Kathy is an artist and a recognized portrait painter . They have two sons and a daughter.

Membership in the House of Lords

Priddis has been a member of the House of Lords as Spiritual Lord since November 24, 2009 . His political interests include rural development, church child and youth work , marriage and family policy , housing and advocacy for local interests in Herefordshire and Shropshire . His inaugural speech was still pending in December 2009. At the end of September 2013, he officially left the House of Lords when he retired as Bishop of Hereford.

Working in public

In questions of canon law, Priddis takes a more conservative position. He is widely considered a traditionalist. This was particularly evident in his general attitude towards the question of homosexuality .

In June 2003, Priddis was one of the bishops of the Church of England , of the nomination of Jeffrey John , an openly gay , the suffragan bishop of priest who lived in a committed relationship Reading by the Archbishop of Canterbury , Rowan Williams , commented. Priddis did not deal directly with John's sexual orientation, but emphasized that John had promised to be celibate as a bishop and to accept the doctrine of the bishops.

In April 2007, allegations emerged that Priddis had refused to hire John Reaney, who had applied for the church youth minister in the diocese of Lichfield , because of his homosexuality . Reaney, who had already received a job offer in July 2003 after an official selection process in which he had admitted his homosexuality, said that Priddis had asked him intimate questions about his sex life in another personal interview. An investigation into suspected anti-discrimination law violation was initiated. Priddis later stated that he rejected Reaney not because of his homosexuality, but because of intercourse outside of marriage. Priddis went on to say that this applies to all persons in the church service, regardless of their sexual identity. He felt that he was in harmony with the teachings of the church.

In July 2007, the labor court ruled in Reaney's favor. In the opinion of the court, the plaintiff was disadvantaged because of his sexual orientation. Religious groups, including those from abroad, then expressed their solidarity with Priddis and turned to Gordon Brown with a petition . The diocese considered appealing. The diocese was sentenced to pay £ 47,000 to Reaney. The total included lost wage payments, pension claims and compensation for pain and suffering.

In December 2007, Priddis expressed his regret over the consequences. He stuck to his point of view, however. In February 2008, the diocese finally accepted the penalty order.

The British gay and lesbian organization Stonewall awarded Priddis the ironic "honorary title" "Bigot of the Year" for his behavior.

In March 2008, Priddis and Dominic Walker , Bishop of Monmouth , called for changes in the health system. Priddis was particularly critical of the rationalization of health care and the impact it would have due to the different health systems in Wales and England .

Publications

• 1986: The Study of Spirituality (contributions)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Vita Anthony Priddis ( Memento of the original from August 21, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Debretts (available online)  
2. ^ Bishop of Hereford retires from role after nine years BBC News, September 24, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
3. ↑ Vita Anthony Priddis at the See of Hereford ( Memento from December 8, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), Number10.gov.uk., From January 13, 2004 (English)
4. ^ The Bishops Office , homepage of the Diocese of Hereford , accessed December 29, 2009
5. ↑ Anthony Priddis on the theyworkforyou homepage
6. ^ Anthony Priddis ( Memento March 23, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Biography of Anthony Priddis on the Official Website of the Church of England ; Retrieved December 27, 2009
7. ↑ Dioceses divided by the issue that won't go away in: The Guardian of March 19, 2003
8. ↑ Bishop accused of blocking gay man's job will face a tribunal Daily Mail April 1, 2007
9. ↑ Why I barred gay worker, by the bishop  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. London Evening Standard of April 4, 2007  
10. ^ Anglican bishop to pay a fine of 63,540 € and re-education condemns petitions 2008, homepage Christian Solidarity International Austria
11. ^ Bishop loses gay employment case, BBC News, July 18, 2007
12. ^ Brit. AGG: Bishop has to pay € 63,000 to Queer.de on February 11, 2008
13. ^ Priddis 'sorry for hurt' ( December 31, 2008 memento in the Internet Archive ) Church Times, December 14, 2007; Web archive version dated December 31, 2008
14. ↑ Hereford ends fight against pay-out Thinking Anglicans of October 3, 2008
15. ↑ Bishop 'bigot' claim over gay row BBC News of November 2, 2007
16. ↑ Bishop's question health care after devolution: CEN 3.14.08 p 5. Geoconger Worldpress of March 13, 2008