Evangelical clergy sanctioned

At least five evangelical ministers have faced disciplinary penalties by the Church of England in the past 12 months, it has emerged.

One of the latest published decisions concerns Mark O’Donoghue, former vicar at Christ Church, Kensington, who received a penalty on 26 June this year for unspecified ‘conduct unbecoming and inappropriate’ to his work as a minister. O’Donoghue was a curate from 2004 to 2011 at St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, before joining Christ Church, Kensington in 2011. O’Donoghue received a ‘limited prohibition for 18 months’.

Tim Hanson, who resigned as vicar at Christ Church, Wharton last year, received a ‘limited prohibition’ for ‘conduct unbecoming and inappropriate’ for five years and six months. He also resigned as chairman of the North-West Gospel Partnership. His diocese made clear it was not for any safeguarding reasons.