Statement on Suspension of Paul Verryn

Press Release

22 January 2010

The Legal Resources Centre, which also represents many of the residents who have sought shelter at the Central Methodist Mission, Johannesburg (“the CMM”), acts for Paul Verryn, the Superintendent Minister of the CMM, in his dispute with the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Ivan Abrahams.

Following media statements made yesterday by the Presiding Bishop and his legal representatives informing the public that Verryn has been “suspended”, there has been much inaccurate speculation regarding the basis of the purported suspension. Specific media reports have linked Verryn’s suspension to allegations involving sexual abuse of persons living at the CMM. No attempt has been made by the Presiding Bishop or his legal representatives to correct this speculation.

It is therefore necessary to issue a statement on behalf of Paul Verryn.

On 18 January 2010, a notice was served on Paul Verryn informing him that he is to attend a disciplinary enquiry on 1 February 2010 in respect of two charges.

• Charge 1 relates to the alleged institution of legal proceedings in December 2009 for the appointment of a curator ad litem to safeguard the interests of unaccompanied minors living at the CMM. The allegation is that Verryn instituted such proceedings without authority and/or without doing so in the name of the Presiding Bishop or Executive Secretary.
• Charge 2 relates to Verryn allegedly making media statements after being instructed not to do so.

Both charges, which Verryn disputes, are accordingly of a procedural or technical nature and are entirely unrelated to any of the grounds that emerged from media speculation.

In view of the second charge, and without accepting its validity, Verryn will at this stage not issue any media statements personally.

On 19 January 2010, Verryn received a letter communicating the decision of the Presiding Bishop to “suspend” him on the basis of these charges.

At this stage, Verryn contests the validity of his purported suspension. He also opposes the institution of disciplinary proceedings against him on the charges referred to above.

Verryn has formally referred the dispute between himself and the Presiding Bishop, Ivan Abrahams, which dispute underlies both charges, to the Convenor of the Arbitration Panel of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Verryn has requested that the disciplinary hearing be postponed pending mediation in terms of the Laws and Discipline of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

We express our concern that the dispute between Verryn and the Presiding Bishop threatens to detract from steps currently underway to safeguard the rights of the people who have sought refuge at the CMM, especially the efforts of the court-appointed curator regarding unaccompanied minors at the CMM.

For further information, please contact:

Jason Brickhill
Legal Resources Centre
073 191 4787

Please note that the LRC in Johannesburg will be relocating as from 1 March 2010. Our new address will be: Bram Fischer Towers , 15th and 16th floor, 20 Albert Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg. The telephone, fax and postal address will remain the same.