British Bulldog
Richard Coekin is a no-nonsense sort of guy. He's that very British style of bulldog: articulate, unfailingly polite, self-deprecating, and possessed of a steely determination. An excellent chap, in other words, to have around when the bullets start flying.
And the bullets have been flying in Richard's direction in recent times. Richard has had his clergyman's licence revoked by his local bishop, Tom Butler of Southwark, ostensibly because of an irregular ordination service Richard organized to ordain three of his staff.
Richard comments: “We were forced to seek valid but irregular ordinations for the staff of our growing congregations after more than two years during which our Bishop persistently refused to do so and because we are now distanced from our Bishop since he refuses to uphold basic biblical principles of sexual morality. We did so with the wide support of both local and national ‘Mainstream’ Evangelical leaders. I still haven't been told why this can legally or morally justify the removal of my licence. I am now being included with those who have been proven guilty of gross immorality or heresy because of my loyalty to the Bible and traditional Anglican doctrine.”
As of today, Richard is waiting to hear whether his appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury against the revocation of his licence has been successful. Readers who want to find out more will find what they need at the Anglican Church League, including explanations of the background, and Richard's letters both to his own Bishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury.