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	Married Vicar Suspended over Claims of 'Improper Relationship' A Married Vicar Has Been Suspended from Duty over Allegations of an ''Improper Relationship'' with a Female Member of His Congregation. Telegraph March 9, 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7398688/Married-vicar-suspended-over-claims-of-improper-relationship.html UNITED KINGDOM -- Reverend Simon Lloyd, 51, who is the vicar of Minehead, Somerset, agreed to stand down from his post after he was confronted with the allegations on Friday. The father-of-one, who has not moved out of the home he shares with wife Susie and their young daughter, will remain suspended while an investigation is carried out. The allegation was revealed to the congregation at the Church of St Andrew in Minehead, Somerset, on Sunday by John Reed, the Archdeacon of Taunton. Prebendary John Andrews, spokesman for the Bath and Wells Diocese, confirmed the suspension but refused to disclose the nature of the relationship. He said: "Simon has accepted voluntary suspension following an allegation made to the Diocese of Bath and Wells of an improper relationship with a female parishioner. "The Archdeacon of Taunton will now carry out an inquiry and see if Simon has any case to answer. If the allegations are true then the case will go into a Clergy Disciplinary Measure which would involve a bishop. "The disciplinary action taken would depend on the severity of what has happened but we don't want to speculate on that at this stage. "The inquiry will take as long as it takes. It won't be protracted but it also won't be rushed." Rev Lloyd, who met his wife Susie while they worked together as nurses in Birmingham, has been in charge of the Minehead parish for the past six years. He accepted an invitation to take voluntary suspension on Friday after allegations of an improper relationship were put to him. His congregation were informed of his suspension on Sunday by the Venerable John Reed who is now carrying out an inquiry into the incident. If the allegations are found to be true then Lloyd will face disciplinary action from the Right Reverend Peter Price, who is the Bishop of Bath and Wells. While the inquiry continues the Reverend Stephen Stuckes, who is vicar of St Michael's Church, Alcombe, Somerset, will carry out Rev Lloyd's parish duties. Rev Lloyd, who became a deacon in 1983 and a priest in 1984, pledged to "demonstrate God's love" when he took up his post in July 2004. He said: "I hope to support and encourage Christians in Minehead in all the things they are doing to demonstrate God's love and care to residents and visitors alike."
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