clergy discipline
Served on Safeguarding & Clergy Discipline Measure
If elected to General Synod, I will advocate: ● support for parish ministry including the prioritisation of resources to ensure that parishes and priests are able to flourish in their mission and ministry ● reviews of the church’s policies so that reform where necessary can release funds to support ministry in our parishes and priests to serve in them ● listening to what the Spirit is saying to the church by refreshing of our identity from our foundational sources – the living tradition through which the Spirit’s voice can be heard ● theologically-grounded social justice as a key component in the Church of England’s mission both nationally and in our local communities ● encouraging vocations to lay and ordained ministry, and ensuring that those who offer service to the church receive support, theologically-informed training, and ongoing deployment – this means protecting stipendiary ministry as the basis of the parish system ● the need to escape the “faddish” nature of many mission initiatives, policies and strategies, and to refocus on the church’s core priorities and identity ● ensuring our reasoning and practices are informed by the gospels and not excessively shaped by secular practices that do not reflect gospel values ● the importance of ensuring clergy discipline and safeguarding issues are well handled, and that current processes are constantly reviewed to ensure that they are transparent, fair and not unduly protracted ● promoting the importance of the church’s place, voice and teaching in national debates on subjects of contemporary ethics, especially where such matters pose greater risk to the vulnerable ● faithfulness to the church’s identity in teaching and the practice of the sacraments, particularly Holy Matrimony and the seal of Confession
There are more than 15 issues of concern that will dominate Synod during the next 5 years, s u c h a s Church-State Relations, Suffragan Bishop numbers with Diocese mergers, See Houses, Stronger Safeguarding, Supporting the Parish System (STP) with direct grants to the Parishes, Clergy Discipline Commission, Racial Justice, Living in Love and Faith – which I cannot support, Dispossessions on Pastoral Review grounds, Rural Issues, Being Church and Vocations, Church Planting and Growth, (I used to be a Church Army Director), Mission Action Plans and Evangelism building on my experience as a Director of St Martha’s College, Strategic Development Funding, including giving more to Cathedrals and giving evidence to the Mission and Pastoral Measure to retain its independent Appellate Role.
CLERGY DISCIPLINE
I served on the Revision Committee for the new Clergy Conduct Measure which will replace the discredited Clergy Discipline Measure.
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).
The replacement of the Clergy Discipline Measure with the new Clergy Conduct
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.
e Canterbury Provincial Panel member for Clergy Discipline
• Fair discipline and complaints: I supported replacing the adversarial Clergy Discipline Measure with
I have contributed regularly to Synod debates, speaking on a wide range of issues including poverty, clergy pensions, safeguarding, vocation, racial justice, chaplaincy, funeral poverty, clergy discipline and public policy.
It is clear that the Clergy Discipline Measure is not merely unjust but cruel, and needs thorough reform.
During my previous time on General Synod, I was involved in reform of clergy discipline and consistently supported better governance, proper scrutiny and more transparent decision-making.
Recent debates on safeguarding structures, Living in Love and Faith, mental health and clergy discipline have shown how closely theology, policy, justice, accountability and pastoral care are connected.
Clergy wellbeing – work has been done around clergy discipline, stipends and pensions but the predicted drop in clergy numbers and those coming forward for ordination puts increasing pressure on parish priests as well as lay people.
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.
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.
Likewise, I support the continued review of the Clergy Discipline Measure.
There remains vital work to do on safeguarding, including independent scrutiny and redress for victims and survivors, alongside continuing questions about clergy wellbeing, pay, housing, pensions and the reform of clergy discipline.
Wellbeing, safeguarding, CMD, finance, retirements outstripping ordinations, changes to clergy discipline, all impinge on clergy terms of service.
Support for clergy, including changes to the pension scheme and a new Clergy Conduct Measure to replace the Clergy Discipline Measure.
On Synod I have supported the replacement of the Clergy Discipline Measure.
As well as serving in my local church, I serve on the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers (AGTAWM), a national synod-level committee addressing clergy wellbeing, terms and conditions, and significant reforms affecting clergy life, including the Clergy Discipline Measure and contractual issues.
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.
previous Synod reforming Clergy Discipline,
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.
the vocational process and clergy discipline.
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.