QCEA issues statement on general secretary row
‘All I have asked for is a fair and impartial investigation into allegations that got me fired, and to be reinstated if those allegations were found to be false.'
Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) has spoken further on the decision to terminate the contract of its general secretary, Timmon Wallis.
The General Assembly of QCEA reflected on the decision when it met on 12 and 13 November.
Jeremey Lester, clerk of QCEA’s Executive Committee and General Assembly, said: ‘The meeting recognised the decision of the Executive Committee as having been taken rightfully, and added reflections which should make for clarity about governance in the future… the meeting agreed that there were lessons to be learned from this episode, and that they should be worked on without delay.’
According to the epistle, in addition to the broader challenges facing QCEA, ‘many members of our community have been challenged mentally, emotionally and spiritually by a recent multi-layered and complex organizational conflict as well as the sincere, continuous struggle to find a resolution. The statements that were confidentially shared with the Assembly have brought into the light a considerable amount of hurt, anger, and layers of sadness’.
Timmon Wallis, former peace and disarmament manager for Britain Yearly Meeting from 2014 to 2017, has robustly denied any wrongdoing. He told the Friend: ‘I was dismissed as director of QCEA without warning or explanation, four days after the QCEA Executive Committee received a letter from other staff containing allegations about my behaviour.
‘All I have asked for is a fair and impartial investigation into allegations that got me fired, and to be reinstated if those allegations were found to be false.
‘It is a sad day when our own Quaker organisations do not live up to [our] ideals. But I am grateful to all the Quakers across Europe who still see integrity as our most important asset and continue to hold QCEA to that high standard.’
The epistle is on the QCEA website.
QCEA said it will not be recruiting for a new general secretary immediately. Jeremy Lester told the Friend: ‘I think it’s a case of “watch this space”. The Quaker Council for European Affairs is an important part of Quakers’ witness, and we want to do things well rather than do things in a hurry.’
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