Vicar speaks in vile tongues

Rev Paul Clarke appears to have upset his congregation. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A church leader is facing allegations he reduced Sunday School children to tears after a foul-mouthed outburst at the school's teacher that included blasphemy.

Reverend Paul Clarke is accused of using the phrase "Jesus Christ" during a tirade against the school's veteran teacher in front of the children.

His behaviour has split the congregation of St Barnabas, an Anglican church in Mt Eden, with 20 members taking their concerns to Auckland Bishop John Paterson.

Although Clarke has made a public apology to the teacher, he refused to comment on the claims, directing inquiries to Paterson.

But his wife Ronelle later said the couple denied the allegations.

Clarke has been church leader for about 18 months. During that time members claim the congregation has dwindled and Sunday School attendance has withered.

Many were reluctant to be named but vestry member and former Mt Eden Mayor Gordon Johns said: "The whole thing is a sad, sad thing."

Other past and present members said they had heard Clarke shout and swear on other occasions. One woman claims she was part of a group that saw Clarke abuse the Sunday School teacher for "several minutes" in front of young children, reducing some to tears. "It stopped me in my tracks," she said.

Another woman alleged he used the phrase "Jesus Christ" during the outburst.

A male churchgoer said most parents removed their children from the Sunday School after the incident. There were now only about three regular attendees, compared with 30 to 35 before.

The man believed Clarke's outburst was the result of his "dogmatic views" about what should be taught at a Sunday School. "He thought it had been too much of a fun fair rather than serious education."

The teacher received a public apology from Clarke through the minutes of the church's annual meeting but has not returned, despite teaching there for 30 years.

The woman who said she saw the outburst said several families had stopped attending the church as a result. "I think people were so hurt, even now they have forgiven him it's not resolved.

"These sort of things shock you as a churchgoer, you expect your leader to set an example. He shouts and swears, he's his own worst enemy, at the end of the day."

Ronelle Clarke said the allegations were "character assassination" and motivated by racism and religious intolerance. She is a South African Catholic of Indian descent, her husband is a former Catholic priest and they have christened their new daughter Leah a Catholic.

Ronelle claimed the Sunday School incident happened in front of her two teenage children and the couple's daughter and not a group. "Paul did get upset and did raise his voice, but he did not use swear words."

She later questioned the blasphemy allegation. "I can't tell you for sure whether he used those words or not. I would be very, very careful using those words. Because of being in the church I don't think he would have used something like that."

Ronelle said the dispute followed her appointment as Sunday School teacher after earlier teaching at other Anglican and Catholic Sunday Schools. She said the school was still going strong with "dozens" of pupils.

"They are just telling utter lies, it's just very sad what's going on, Paul would never do that to anybody. The parish itself does not want to change, they just want to stay where they are."

Ronelle has left the church and worships at a Catholic parish. "I just feel that I have been pushed out now."

Clarke has had mediation with congregation members, but his wife did not know whether they would stay. "We're leaving the decision to the bishop."

Anglican Church spokesman Lloyd Ashton said mediation had occurred and resolution was likely "very soon".

He said church congregations didn't always get on with their leader. "There are occasions that vicars and congregations don't get on, they don't fit."