Press release from the Church of England
New Independent Reviewer announced for House of Bishops Declaration
20/12/2022
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York with the agreement of the Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity have announced that Maggie Swinson has been appointed as the next Independent Reviewer.
The long-serving former General Synod member, who is now Vice Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, takes up the post left vacant following the death earlier this year of Sir William Fittall. She will work with a Deputy Independent Reviewer to be appointed early next year.
The ombudsman-style role rules on concerns and disputes over the operation of the House of Bishops declaration on the ministry of bishops and priests.
The declaration, drawn up in 2014 ahead of legislation paving the way for the consecration of women as bishops, sets out the arrangements for parishes that seek the priestly or episcopal ministry of men on grounds of theological conviction.
Mrs Swinson brings more than 30 years of experience as a General Synod member to the post of Independent Reviewer. She was closely involved in the arrangements and drafting of legislation for the ordination of women as priests and bishops in the Church of England.
Most recently she was part of the group led by Sir William that worked following 2012 on the facilitated conversations, declaration and legislation that was approved in 2014 for the ordination of women as bishops.
Mrs Swinson said: “I would like to pay tribute to the painstaking and brilliant work of Sir William in drawing up the legislation and arrangements for the ordination of women as bishops and his role after retirement as Secretary General as Independent Reviewer.
“The House of Bishops declaration commits the Church of England fully to all orders of ministry being open equally to all, without reference to gender. It also makes it clear that the Church of England remains committed to the flourishing of those who, on grounds of theological conviction, are unable to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests.
“I am passionate about the principle of ensuring that there is respect for all and that the Church of England upholds the principles of the declaration.”
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York said: “We are delighted that Maggie has agreed to take up this role. She is a faithful servant of the Church of England with a heartfelt commitment to the mutual flourishing of all in the Church. Her in-depth knowledge and experience as a General Synod member on this issue is unsurpassed.”
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Sounds a good choice, and the better this hard compromise is made to work, the greater the odds that something similar will be implemented in other areas of profound theological disagreement.
I know nothing about this lady, but as she is vice chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, with a heartfelt commitment, I can’t really see how she can be described as independent. Independent of whom?
The ACC is a body of the Anglican Communion, not the C of E. Also, it’s the only international body in our ridiculously clericalised communion that includes lay representation.
This is largely true but the IALC (International Anglican Liturgical Consultation) is open to anyone to attend if you are involved in teaching liturgy or in liturgical revision / formation at a provincial level.
You are using the wrong dictionary.
It is the Church of England definition of independent. For example Independent Safeguarding Board.
Independent = not working for a group that campaigns on gender issues / able to see both sides in the ordination of women settlement.
Maggie is a great person – very fair minded and a tragedy that she was not re-elected to GS in 2021.
Why? Is not part of the problem with the CoE that its politburo is made up of rabbit’s friends and relations, some very long-standing, with no room for younger voices? So many of our institutions are run by people who’ll soon be dead.
The GS is made up of people elected by their peers.
I know. Thirty years on GS is a good stint. Maybe the electorate thought it was time for someone new. Fittall’s replacement is someone who is part of the club. Maybe this is a good thing. But maybe someone from outwith the club would be a better thing. There are precedents for such a notion in Holy Scripture.
It’s great that someone has been appointed, and it sounds very encouraging. A sidebar question: was this role publicly advertised? As a general principle, advertising roles (paid or voluntary) is essential for inclusive recruitment and appointments. Of course advertising can be supplemented by search (headhunting). But advertising appropriately is the only way to ensure equity and justice. Failure to advertise many roles is one of the current weaknesses of CofE appointment processes. Anyway, it’s really good news that an appointment has finally been made, and I wish her the very best with this role, and thank her for being willing… Read more »
Appointments in the church can still be opaque even when a post is publicly advertised. I once applied for an incumbency that had been advertised in the Church Times only to find on the day of the interview that there was an obviously favoured candidate who was subsequently offered it. Other people have had the same experience. Some of those who have the power to appoint need to be more honest about what they have in mind. This would save a lot of time and frustration.
Yes, this can happen in all areas of employment, and it’s dispiriting for other applicants if a preference for one candidate is made apparent.
But it is fair enough for there to be candidates who are regarded as very strong even before the appointment process begins. The key thing though is that even if there’s a strong and favoured candidate, those appointing cannot in conscience be sure they’ve got the best candidate for the role if they haven’t advertised appropriately. So they must advertise to test the market and give other less visible candidates the chance to apply.
But the church isn’t a market. I can feel a Palm Sunday sermon coming on!
A figure of speech. But if you prefer one could say they must advertise to assess the field of possible candidates.
I suspect that for some (perhaps many) in the church, the language of the market is more than a figure of speech. For them the church has become a bureaucracy not a body; an organisation not an organism.
I appreciate your trying to put a positive gloss on what you said but in over 40 years of ministry I’ve heard too many stories about appointments being made where those in charge have made up their minds in advance. Advertising and interviews are just a matter of going through the motions.
This is a really good appointment to what is, in many ways, a fairly esoteric ombudsman (person!) role in the Church of England. I don’t know whether it was advertised. It didn’t need to be, but if it was there would have been few, if any, applicants. It is an appointment made by the two archbishops under the snappy sounding Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests (Resolution of Disputes Procedure) Regulations 2014, made by the House of Bishops under Canon C 29. Maggie Swinson is the third holder of the office. Sir Philip Mawer was the first, and… Read more »
If you scroll right down to the bottom of this page you will find links to all the individual reports from the Independent Reviewer, and a set of annual reports.