Uniting Church caught in row over Wesley College head

 By Susan Hewitt

THE Uniting Church is embroiled in the row over the resignation of Wesley [College] principal John Bednall in August.
  The school board accused him of accessing inapprop-riate websites on a school computer and in September, an anonymous article in the church paper, Western Impact, made similar claims.

  Mr Bednall said it was wrong and asked the paper to publish his response.
  Uniting Church Synod general secretary John Evans said the paper had said it would publish Mr Bednall's response but withdrew the offer after church lawyers advised against it.
  In his response, Mr Bednall said he had resigned because of ill health. The article was unfair and the paper did not seek comment. The school

council had not said why his conduct was inappropriate.
  In August, council head Craig Readhead said the matter had been referred to police. No charges have been laid.
  Mr Evans said the paper had not decided to omit the source, it was more likely an oversight.
  The church hoped to set up a conciliation meeting.