A stand-off involving a Port Elizabeth organist who was “barred” from church after a spat with the leadership of St Saviour’s Anglican Church has been resolved.
The feud, between organist Kevin Osborne and Reverend Dudley Greenshields, stemmed from an argument over the administration of communion to Osborne’s sickly mother.
This week, Port Elizabeth Anglican Bishop Bethlehem Nopece confirmed that a truce had been reached and Osborne had apologised.
“Osborne has tendered an apology in writing,” he said.
The bishop said the apology would also be read out to the congregation. “It is accepted by me and rector Greenshields. I have great hope the congregation will do likewise,” he said.
“Whether Osborne will now return to church as we expect, we still wait and see. The matter is now resolved as far as we are concerned.”
The feuding parties were initially called to Nopece’s office but were unable to resolve the matter.
Osborne claimed that during a meeting with Nopece he had been told by Greenshields that he was no longer welcome at the church.But late last week Greenshields said that since an article was published in The Herald’s sister paper, Weekend Post, relations had improved.
“We have accepted the apology. He was always welcome to come here but he chose to leave,” Greenshields said.
“We never prevented him from attending the church.”
Osborne confirmed this and said there had been headway in the matter.
“I have sent a letter to apologise to the bishop and reverend. At this stage, I do not want to comment further.”
The drama started on January 21 when Osborne approached Greenshields with a request that he be allowed to take communion to his sickly mother at her home.
But when his request was turned down on the basis that he was not a licensed lay minister, Osborne stopped playing the organ during a service and walked out of the church.