Safeguarding

Just prior to the February group of sessions, Professor Alexis Jay published her report on the future of independent safeguarding in the Church. In February a general debate took place on the contents of the report, alongside the report from Sarah Wilkinson on the former Independent Safeguarding Board. In July a more substantive debate took place following a presentation which called for a detailed analysis of the options for independent safeguarding as set out in GS 2364. The Safeguarding Code of Practice: Learning and Development was approved and came into operation on 31 July 2024.

Legislation

Having reached just past the mid-way point of the lifetime of the current General Synod, a large amount of legislation was considered over the two groups of sessions. The following were passed – the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure for first consideration (February) and Revision, Final Drafting and Final Approval (July); the Church Funds Investment Measure for first considered (February) and Revision, Final Drafting and Final Approval (July); the Clergy Conduct Measure for Revision (July); the National Church Governance Measure for first consideration (July).

Living in Love and Faith

The dominant item of business at both groups of sessions remained Living in Love and Faith. In February, the debate was curtailed by the procedural motion that ‘this Synod do move to Next Business’ with 322 voting in favour and 69 against. The motion therefore lapsed. The matter returned to Synod in July where Synod passed the motion which requested that the House of Bishop revise the Pastoral Guidance to remove any restriction of the Prayers of Love and Faith in standalone services, and to establish the basis for the provision of Pastoral Reassurance through a House of Bishops’ Statement and Code of Practice.

Clergy wellbeing

The Synod considered a number of motions relating to clergy wellbeing, including a private Member’s motion requesting legislative proposals to enable the removal from office of a churchwarden, PPC member or other lay officer who had been found guilty of bullying; a motion requesting the increase in the level of clergy pension; a motion to give the power to grant a faculty removing the impediment under Canon C4 para 4 (ordination and divorce and remarriage) to the diocesan bishop; and a motion calling for amendments to the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 so that an office holder is entitled to not less than 36 hours of rest in any seven days.

Other business

Across both the February and July group of sessions Synod passed a range of motions, including welcoming the work being done by the Church Commissioner on managing land and nature, and calling for more resources; affirming the dignity and value of work as a significant component of human flourishing; urging HM Government to implement recommendations from the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households; calling on whole church to do more to encourage a loving, serving, and worshipping Christian community on every significant social housing estate and reaffirming the human dignity of disabled children. A motion from Diocese of London was passed which requested the Archbishops’ Council to amend the Fees Orders in relation to funerals that take place at crematoria and cemeteries to reflect the contribution made by parishes in support of such services.

The following were approved: the Vacancy in See Committee Regulations 2024; Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Rules 2024; Amendments to Standing Orders 21, 29, 69, 73, 77, 87, 90 and 30. The annual legal officers and ecclesiastical judges fees orders were subject to the procedural motion that ‘the Synod do pass to Next Business’ and lapsed. Amending Canon 43 (which deals with miscellaneous provisions) was promulged and executed.