Leslie Francis and Andrew Village Church Times Counting the cost of pandemic ministry
“What is the state of clergy morale, one year after the first lockdown”
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Misogyny in Islam and Christianity
Jen Frost Insurance Post Briefing: Ecclesiastical’s child abuse claims shame – CEO Hews’ admission too little too late?
44 CommentsStephen Parsons Surviving Church The Power of the Internet to bring change to the Safeguarding World
Frog Orr-Ewing Psephizo Do we need to ‘Save the Parish’?
42 CommentsNews from the Diocese of Newcastle
Bishop Christine announces the date of her retirement
The Right Reverend Christine Hardman, after six years as Bishop of Newcastle, has announced that she is to retire from her role at the end of November.
Bishop Christine, the 12th Bishop of Newcastle, said: “I am reaching my 70th birthday at the end of August and my time as Bishop of Newcastle is drawing to a close. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted my resignation, and with the Archbishop of York’s permission I will be stepping down as Bishop of Newcastle on 30th November, 2021…
119 CommentsJames Mumford UnHerd What the ‘Save the Parish’ campaign doesn’t understand
“Justin Welby’s plans are better than critics claim”
Mark Bennet Surviving Church Doing Church without the difficult bits
David Ford Church Times In defence of ordinary, faithful churchgoers
“Talk of ‘missionary disciples’ means little to lay people in the parishes — and risks alienating them”
Alison Milbank The Critic Is the Parish Church worth saving?
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Finding the voice of LGBTIQ+ people and allies in the LLF conversations
9 CommentsGreta Gaffin Earth & Altar 5 ways to pretend you know more about the Church than you really do
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Searching for Expertise in Safeguarding in the Church of England
Giles Fraser UnHerd The Church is on the brink of revolt
101 CommentsAlister McGrath The Living Church Anglicanism and the Natural Sciences
Gavin Drake The Jill Saward Organisation Church of England’s High Court contempt threat for abuse victims
Rachel White Surviving Church Lessons Not Learned: an 18-Month Review
Helen King sharedconversations The Church of England as a WASGIJ
Alex Clare-Young Living in love and faith? The construction of contemporary texts of terror
Archbishop Cranmer Does it matter if Church of England parishes wither on the vine?
29 CommentsColin Coward Unadulterated Love Radical Christian Inclusion – a definition
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church The ‘morale’ factor. Senior church staff and their support of clergy
20 CommentsAndrew Lightbown Theore0 Speaking of church, speaking of strategy; speaking of leadership
Martyn Percy Meander Feeding the Five Thousand
23 CommentsThe Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Revd Dr David Ison, has announced his intention to retire in September 2022. Dr David Ison will be 68, and will have served at the Cathedral for ten years.
The announcement can be read on the websites of the Diocese of London and of St Paul’s Cathedral.
24 CommentsPress release from the Church of England
Update on Smyth Review
29/07/2021
An update on timing for the Smyth Review from the National Safeguarding Team:
For the survivors and victims of the appalling abuse by Smyth it is vital this review is done thoroughly but we have also taken very seriously their concerns on timing. Due to the ongoing high volume of information coming into the reviewers, following the recent publication of an executive summary and statements relating to Smyth, it has been agreed that the deadline for submission of evidence will now be September 30. The reviewers will then compile data and timelines and set up any further meetings before writing up their report. This will be followed by a representation process once the report has been completed, publication is expected in 2022.
We apologise for the length of time this has taken, while some meetings were delayed by COVID the reviewers have also been dealing with an exceptionally high volume of information which has needed looking into; this has included harrowing testimonies from survivors and victims and we thank them for their courage and willingness to participate.
After the deadline of September 30 arrangements will be made by the reviewers to listen to any further survivors and victims, or those who have other information, who wish to come forward to share their experiences in a supported and confidential manner.
Both the reviewers and the Church recognise that giving information to this review has the potential to be re-traumatising for victims and survivors.
Support continues to be offered; please contact Emily Denne at emily.denne@churchofengland.org
or call the independent Safe Spaces helpline, on 0300 303 1056, or email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk
Anyone who would like to come forward and share information please do contact the independent reviewer Keith Makin keith.makin@independentreviews.live
2 CommentsFrancis Spufford The Christian Century How I changed my mind about same-sex marriage
“It began when I realized the church has always had a process for changing its mind.”
Gilo Surviving Church Interim Support Scheme & Redress Scheme
Ian Paul Psephizo Can the C of E plant new churches and retain the parish system?
An interview with John McGinley
Paul Andrews The Yorkshire Post Why Church of England needs new PR team to win back worshippers
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love The LLF definition of radical new Christian inclusion is not radical, nor new, nor Christian, nor inclusive
Meg Warner The Tablet Anglicanism and mission
[requires free registration to access]
Press release from the Church of England
2 CommentsAlan Smith announced as next First Church Estates Commissioner
27/07/2021Alan Smith, Senior Advisor – ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Risk and Inclusion, and former Global Head of Risk Strategy at HSBC, is to be the next First Church Estates Commissioner, Downing Street announced today. Alan has also been a Church Commissioner since 2018.
The First Church Estates Commissioner chairs the Church Commissioners’ Assets Committee, a statutory committee responsible for the strategic management of the Church Commissioners’ £9.2 billion investment portfolio.
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The House of Bishops met on Monday 26th of July 2021 via Zoom
26/07/2021
The House of Bishops met on Monday 26th of July as the final meeting prior to the summer break.
Following a number of procedural items, the House reflected on the July Synod and looked forward towards the next quinquennium. The Clerk to the Synod addressed the House as to whether it might be necessary for the Synod to meet more frequently in 2022 or 2023, for reasons including the substantive work arising out of the Emerging Church work.
The House then turned its attention to potential implications for Anglican – Methodist LEPs and ecumenical relations following the decision of the July Methodist Conference to permit same-sex marriages to take place in Methodist churches. The Secretary General addressed the House, as did the Enabling Officer for the LLF project and Next Steps Group. The House agreed to seek advice on the matter from the Episcopal Reference Group of the Faith and Order Commission, with the House noting the need also to engage with the Archbishops’ Council.
The Bishop of Huddersfield, in his capacity as the lead bishop for safeguarding then updated the House on the Safeguarding National Casework Management System. The House agreed additional steps to help the project become more fully embedded in dioceses, with the National Safeguarding Team available for discussions regarding any particular concerns or issues for dioceses.
The Archbishops’ Adviser on Racial Justice then addressed the House on the next stage of the Commission of Racial Justice, commissioned by both Archbishops. The House was updated and invited to note the progress outlined so far towards implementing the recommendations from the Lament to Action report. In addition, the House also noted and commented upon the draft terms of reference for the Commission on Racial Justice.
The Bishop of London, in her capacity as Chair of the Recovery Group (now concluded) then updated the House on what is now permissible since 19th of July and confirmed that she and her colleagues will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation carefully as it continues to evolve.
The Archbishop of York then briefly updated the House on the Vision and Strategy workstream of the Emerging Church work. This was followed by the Bishop of Leeds who spoke to the Governance Reviews Group’s (GRG) work and report. The House noted the progress made to date, with the full report of the GRG to be presented and discussed at the September College of Bishops.
The meeting concluded with the Archbishop of York giving a blessing.
16 CommentsMartin Sewell Archbishop Cranmer The immoral, scandalous and disgraceful nature of CofE bullying
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church The Importance of Prophetic Ministry in the Church
Anderson Jeremiah Church Times Mixed-ecology church: why definitions matter
“Some who use the language of biology are, in fact, proposing a model driven by economics”
Church Times Leader comment: Fr Griffin: one death too many
Meg Munn Chair of the National Safeguarding Panel Taking Zoom to the next level
The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication An interview with John McGinley
7 CommentsKevin Scully Limiting factors? How did we get there?
Charlotte Gauthier All Things Lawful And Honest Set God’s People Free
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love ‘We’ve made our decision’: the Church of England and trans people
3 CommentsAndrew Gimson The Conservative Woman Profile: The Church of England, afflicted by a central bureaucracy which is mounting a takeover bid
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love What the campaign for radical new LGBTIQ+ Christian inclusion requires of us and the Church
Jane Shaw Church Times Cathedrals: a forgotten model for church growth
“Why are church-plants seen as the only game in town when it comes to reversing decline”
Gavin Drake The Jill Saward Organisation Briefing on the Proposed Clergy Conduct Measure
Lorraine Cavanagh Modern Church A Response to the ‘Myriad Plan’
Anthony Woollard Modern Church A Great Leap… To Where?
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Some Day I’ll Find You
Christopher Johnson All Things Lawful And Honest Power Grab or Pastoral Measure?
George Sumner The Living Church Mission is not a zero-sum game
Lee Proudlove Anglican Ink Do the Church of England’s bishops want 10,000 new churches or not?
4 CommentsNick Spencer Engelsberg Ideas Humanism matters in the age of AI
Giles Fraser UnHerd The Church is abandoning its flock
Edward Dowler All Things Lawful And Honest Ordained by God
Andrew Lightbown Theore0 Speaking of planning permission: 10,000 reasons to decline
Dave Male, the Church of England’s director of evangelism and discipleship Clergy and parishes at the heart of the Church of England – now and in the future
Church Times Leader comment: ‘Key limiting factors’
Ian Black Church Times ‘Passengers’ have more to offer than we think
“The laity have long contributed to church growth, even if some shirk from the language of ‘discipleship'”
Philip Murray All Things Lawful And Honest Limiting Factors? Or Limited Ecclesiology?
Paul Bayes ViaMedia.News LGBT Stories: Bring on the Ban!
136 CommentsThis post will be updated as the meeting proceeds.
The Church of England’s General Synod is meeting from today (9 July) to next Monday.
The timetable is here, the papers are here, and there is a live stream of the proceedings here from 1230 today (Friday).
Order papers
I – Friday
II – Saturday morning
III – Saturday afternoon
IV – Sunday
V – Monday morning
VI – Monday afternoon
Official press releases
A shortage of clergy would really limit us – we need more vocations, that’s my prayer’ – Archbishop of York’s address to Synod
National Investing Bodies report climate change progress to General Synod
Lord Boateng named as new Chair of Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission
Racial Justice Officers: Statement by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Bishop David Walker and Canon John Spence
Archbishop of York’s address to Synod on Vision and Strategy
Synod Officers condemn “disgraceful” racism following Euro 2020 final
Official record of business done
Business Done Friday 9 July
Business Done Saturday 10 July (AM)
Business Done Saturday 10 July (PM)
Business Done Sunday 11 July (PM)
Business Done Monday 12 July (AM)
Business Done Monday 12 July (PM)
Members’ blogs
Stephen Lynas
preview of the business: This could be the last time…
Friday’s business: I just stay home the whole day long, and think of you…
Saturday’s business: Money don’t get everything, it’s true
Sunday’s business: Oh, won’t you stay just a little bit longer?
Monday’s business: Still crazy after all these years
Andrew Nunn
Crumbs
Lumi
Time’s up!
Tim Hind reports for the Open Synod Group.
Other blogs
Helen King Handing on the baton?
Church Times
Sheffield trauma will not be revisited, Synod hears
Clarification: not 10,000 but 20,000; not a strategy but a vision
‘Shock’ on C of E taskforce at refusal of funding for diocesan racial-justice officers
Clergy are a limiting factor, says York … the lack of them
Church is entering a season of action on safeguarding, says Gibbs
Investors are doing their bit to fight climate change, says Minghella
‘Will we need a sick note?’ Synod struggles over voter-not-present proposals
Parliament to fix communion clause just in time for Synod elections
Synod hears about the pain of pastoral reorganisation
Parish clergy are at the heart of any new strategy, Archbishop of York insists
Church must address abuse of women priests on social media, says Bishop of London
Other press reports
The Guardian C of E rejects call to appoint racial justice officers in every diocese
Church of England accused of stifling debate on race and gender
Other things
Synod will be debating replacing the Clergy Discipline Measure on Sunday afternoon. The Sheldon Hub has published this: General Synod July 2021 – out of the frying pan into the fire?
[Users of the General Synod app should note that this debate and some other items have been omitted from the timetable.]
The Church of England has released its Ministry Statistics 2020. Detailed Diocesan tables can be found in a separate excel file. Statistics for earlier years can be found here.
There is an accompanying press release, copied below.
Recommendations for stipendiary ordained ministry training highest for a generation
08/07/2021
Nearly 600 people were recommended for training for ordained ministry in the Church of England last year, including the highest number for a generation of candidates expected to take up paid clergy posts.
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