clergy conduct
I have also contributed to debates on legislation affecting clergy and parish life, including the new Clergy Conduct Measure.
The good news is that we saved the Clergy Conduct Measure 2025 – because we separated Safeguarding and made it our number 1 priority saying we would pay whatever it costs in compensation to the many victims through the Church Commissioners.
The previous Synod passed a new Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM), a redress scheme for survivors, and the next phase of safeguarding reforms, including external scrutiny.
I served on the Revision Committee for the new Clergy Conduct Measure which will replace the discredited Clergy Discipline Measure.
As a distance runner who runs every day, I recognise that to sustain endurance, there needs to be suficient support in place, so I’d advocate for a Clergy Conduct Measure that leads to better pensions, stipends, housing, and maternity support.
There needs to be careful attention to the implementation of the new Clergy Conduct Measure to ensure that it treats clergy fairly and enables appropriate support.
The new Mission and Pastoral Measure and Clergy Conduct Measure matter; so do further reforms to faculty jurisdiction, episcopal appointment processes, burial rights (!) and some of the cumbersome processes which consume energy we need for mission.
The Clergy Conduct Measure also requires very close scrutiny in the next Synod..
Synod has also completed essential internal work such as the new Clergy Conduct Measure to supersede the CDM, developing the new Mission and Pastoral legislation to facilitate good collaborative working.
In the Clergy Conduct Measure debate I argued for appropriate and properly funded legal representation for both parties involved in a complaint, particularly for Clergy facing a public hearing.
I am one of two members of General Synod appointed to the Clergy Discipline Commis sion which oversees the implementation of the Clergy Discipline Measure (soon to become the ‘improved but not yet perfect’ Clergy Conduct Measure).
Speak up for the concerns of clergy especially with regard to well-being and mental health, pensions, stipends, housing and guidelines for clergy conduct.
The replacement of the Clergy Discipline Measure with the new Clergy Conduct
I hope the new Clergy Conduct Measure, with its triage approach, will help distinguish legitimate concerns from vexa- tious or inappropriate complaints.
The issue of clergy discipline has been resolved (hopefully) with the enactment of the Clergy Conduct Measure (yet to come into force), but that of safeguarding reform remains.
In 2021 I stood on three priorities: inclusion, structural change within the Church’s pastoral organisation, and clergy wellbeing, particularly in relation to the new Clergy Conduct Measure.
I have been particularly keen to see work taken through that helps with simplification of current structures, that seeks to create a code of conduct for PCCs and volunteers, that has moved towards stronger safeguarding structures and that sees progress on the new Mission and Pastoral and Clergy Conduct Measures.
Alongside these nationally prominent issues are matters that directly affect every parish: The revised Clergy Conduct
Twice in the last year, Measures (Synod’s draft laws) of great importance to the Church, the Clergy Conduct Measure and the National Church Governance Measure, have been rejected by the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament before they could become law because Synod did not establish proper safeguards around the use (and so potential abuse) of power.
the Clergy Conduct Measure and will press for proper implementation.
In the last 5 years at the General Synod, I have had opportunities to speak on various issues including matters concerning human sexuality, to attend the committee on the new Clergy Conduct Measure, to organise a number of fringe events on issues such as assisted suicide, and to ask many formal questions.
My legislative experience includes serving on Steering Committees, including for the Cathedrals Measure, and as a Member of the Steering Committee for the Clergy Conduct Measure, helping to shape important legislation for the life of the Church.
A Commitment to Integrity and Accountability Through my work on safeguarding, clergy conduct, and Synodical processes, I am committed to ensuring that the Church operates with transparency, accountability, and trust.
There is also important work ahead in relation to safeguarding reform and greater independence, the implementation of the Clergy Conduct Measure, and the development of professional standards for clergy life and ministry.
taking forward the work on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage arising from Living in Love and Faith However, we have also dealt with important legislation on Clergy Conduct, the central Governance of the church and the distribution of funding; have approved better remuneration and pension arrangements for clergy; have had lively and often moving debates on topics related to full inclusion in the life of the church related to mental health, disability, neurodivergence and access to ministry for working class people.
The ongoing work of the General Synod on clergy conduct, safeguarding, and wellbeing will be significant in creating the right culture to enable us all to flourish.
The next Synod need to ensure the new arrangements under the Clergy Conduct Rules 2026 are fit for purpose, so that cases are dealt with promptly and fairly for all concerned.
Clergy discipline must be fair to complainant and respondent alike: the new Clergy Conduct Measure has to be made to work in practice, not only on paper.
The new Clergy Conduct Measure is much better than the CDM it has replaced.
I chaired the Steering Committee for the Clergy Conduct Measure, which will soon replace the Clergy Discipline Measure – and is a great improvement upon it.
This has been seen for instance in my leadership of the revision of the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy, essential to make Clergy Conduct fair and clear.
03 — CLERGY CONDUCT &
I will watch how the new clergy conduct process works in practice, not how it reads.
The new Clergy Conduct
• Speaking several times on the Clergy Conduct Measure and submitting amendments to the Revision
Support for clergy, including changes to the pension scheme and a new Clergy Conduct Measure to replace the Clergy Discipline Measure.
I have helped shape the Clergy Conduct Measure and Mission and Pastoral Measure, and contributed to debates on safeguarding, mission, racial justice and parish life.
I would also take a particular interest in the new Clergy Conduct Measure.
I support safeguarding reform and the Clergy Conduct Measure, while also calling for better support for those accused of misconduct.
Clergy & Vocations Crisis: Transitioning effectively to the new Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) to replace the CDM, alongside creating sustainable pathways for younger stipendiary vocations and clergy wellbeing.
I will press for a Clergy Conduct Measure that learns from previous failures, sustained progress on stipends, housing, pensions, proper implementation of the Clergy Care & Wellbeing Covenant, and better support for curates and those in new posts.
This enables me to advocate effectively on key issues such as clergy wellbeing, the Clergy Conduct Measure, and the role of the priest in mission and discipleship.
The work of the committee focused on ensuring the Guidelines offer aspirational standards for clergy and, as they are also to be used as a code of conduct for cases under the Clergy Conduct Measure, an effective deterrent to their weaponisation against the clergy.
I have a personal interest in the Clergy Conduct Measure and have made contributions on the measure and rules.
He has a particular passion for clergy wellbeing - in particular the recent revision of the Clergy Disciplinary Measure (Clergy Conduct Measure).
I want to ensure that the new Clergy Conduct Measure is fit for purpose, fair, transparent and timely.
As Deputy Prolocutor, I sit on the Standing Committee for the House of Clergy, overseeing the core business of Synod that affects clergy, such as the Clergy Code of Conduct, the Clergy Conduct Measure and the Safeguarding Code of Practice.
I’ve represented General Synod on the Church of England’s Advisory Group on the Wellbeing of Ministers, the revision committee for the Clergy Conduct Measure and the working group for the Professional Guidelines for Conduct of the Clergy.
In the past 5 years, Synod has approved the new Clergy Conduct Measure and
Whether we are navigating our ongoing conversations around relationships, sexuality, and gender, establishing genuinely independent safeguarding oversight, or navigating the rollout of the Clergy Conduct Measure, my approach remains the same.
I also support the recently introduced Clergy Conduct Measure and believe that the Church should be very serious about examining recent failings in supporting clergy who face false allegations about their conduct.
I welcome the Clergy Conduct Measure’s new tiered system for addressing complaints, but have a concern about consistency in application which was a problem for CDMs.
The new Clergy Conduct Measure, which has recently come into force, has made some positive changes, and the Abuse Redress Measure is expected to come into force by the end of the year.
I was on the Clergy Conduct Measure Revision Committee and have also been a member of a committee of Archbishop’s Council - the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers, which works to ensure that our clergy are well cared for and can thrive in parish ministry. ● I am also Vice Chair of our Vacancy in See Committee and have been elected to the Crown Nominations Commission to help us find the 100th Bishop of Lichfield in the coming months. ● My experience of being a trustee of CPAS and Church Society helps inform my governance work in the wider church, together with service as a governor at our church school for over ten years, and on CEEC and Lichfield Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. ● I’m married to Neil, a vicar, and we have three young adult children, and a large lurcher.
Over the last five years I have contributed to debates on parish finances, clergy conduct, safeguarding, support for ministry in deprived communities, and the use of the Church's resources.
The Clergy Conduct Measure is of interest to me, having written on its predecessor legislation and sat on the Clergy Discipline Commission for a time.
Much of this is still being shaped by debate in the General Synod 2003, the disastrous Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) was introduced, now to be replaced with the Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) agreed by General Synod in 2025 and due for implementation this year We have had multiple reports on human sexuality culminating in the huge collection of resources, ‘Living in Love and Faith,’ which has now run its course, though the debate continues and will certainly shape the next quinquennium of General Synod Multiple parish benefices have continued to grow in number and size, and with it, clergy workload and stress.
For wider support of Clergy through the Clergy Conduct Measure, reinforcement of the
Clergy Conduct Measure
I have served on the Standing Committee (which oversees the Synod) for the last ten years, I am responsible for Clergy Wellbeing and worked hard on the Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) and the Guidelines of the Conduct of the Clergy.
Clergy Wellbeing Drawing on my experience in complaints management, I was involved in the Revision Committee relating to the Clergy Discipline Measure, part of the work that has led to significant improvement with the new Clergy Conduct Measure.
I believe clergy wellbeing deserves sustained attention, together with fair and compassionate clergy conduct processes.