A CHURCH of Ireland rector in Northern Ireland has been removed from ministry following an internal church inquiry into a compliant that he had entered into an inappropriate relationship with a young woman.
The Rev Ivan Williamson had been rector at the parochial group of Errigle Keerogue, Ballygawley and Killeshill in Co Tyrone.
The Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Alan Harper, in whose Armagh diocese the parochial group is situated, made the announcement yesterday.
He said that on June 26th, 2009, he suspended Mr Williamson from his duties “as incumbent of the parochial group of Errigle Keerogue, Ballygawley and Killeshill pending the formal investigation of a complaint which I had lodged against him” under terms of the constitution of the Church of Ireland. He continued that a disciplinary tribunal of the church investigated the complaint and found Mr Williamson guilty “of conduct unbecoming to the sacred calling of a person in holy orders”.
The tribunal heard evidence that Mr Williamson “had entered into electronic communications of a sexual nature with a young person (over the age of 16) and had engaged in electronic communications of a sexual nature with other named individuals which the tribunal determined were inappropriate”.
The tribunal also held that “by engaging in the aforementioned conduct, and by allowing an inappropriate personal relationship to develop with a young person, Mr Williamson acted in breach of the current Church of Ireland child protection policy, Safeguarding Trust”.
The tribunal ordered Mr Williamson “be permanently deprived of his office as incumbent of the parochial group of Errigle Keerogue, Ballygawley and Killeshill and that he be deposed from holy orders. The order deposing him from holy orders is subject to a stay for a period of one year and shall not be implemented if satisfactory medical reports are received.”
Mr Williamson’s parishioners were informed of the tribunal’s findings yesterday.