Methodist Church suspends Paul Verryn

The Methodist Church of South Africa has suspended Central Methodist Church head Paul Verryn – but will not disclose the charges he faces.

Attorney Bongani Khoza, representing the church, said yesterday that Verryn was “charged and would appear before a church disciplinary hearing on February 1”.

“This follows a lengthy investigation by the district disciplinary registrar of the church. Following that, the registrar decided to charge Paul Verryn,” Khoza told The Times.

Verryn, whose term as a bishop ended last month, was suspended on Tuesday. Khoza would not reveal what charges Verryn faces. But The Times has learned that he is said to have “breached church conduct”.

The church, in central Johannesburg, is a sanctuary for hundreds of immigrants but has been subjected to allegations of the abuse of women and children, overcrowding and crime. Some teachers at the church have been accused of grooming children for sexual exploitation and crime.

In November, the church said that, in response to allegations of “sexual abuse of children … at the Central Methodist Church, we appointed an internal investigative commission”.

There have been disputes between the church and the Gauteng government, which accused Verryn of refusing to co-operate with social workers who wanted to move the children of Zimbabwean refugees to homes and other shelters.

Following recent allegations that Verryn was discouraging children from moving to places of safety, child-rights lawyer Anne Skelton was appointed curator of the children living at the church by the Johannesburg High Court. She will present a report on their plight to the court next month. Khoza said the church will be managed by other clergy.

“The church has many clergy, not just Paul Verryn, who are capable of running the church.” Verryn would not respond to queries by The Times:
This report was done by The Times.