Thinking Anglicans

Smyth independent review to be published on 13 November

The Church of England issued the following press release this morning.

Smyth independent review publication plan
22/10/2024

The National Safeguarding Team, NST, has now received the independent review from Keith Makin relating to the John Smyth case. A detailed plan, drawn up in consultation with survivors, is now in place to enable those that choose to do so to read the document in advance in a timely manner and with support on request. The NST has also been asked to factor in the half term period and the fact some of those impacted will not be around during those weeks. Once this process has been completed the report will be published in full on Wednesday November 13. On this day survivors will have the opportunity for a confidential webinar to ask questions. After the survivor webinar there will be a separate press conference.

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Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney: further developments

See our earlier report here.

The bishop issued this statement on 9 October: Pastoral letter to the Diocese from the Bishop.

The Church Times reported this on 17 October: Four Scottish bishops urge Dyer to consider her position

And then this on 18 October: ‘No prospect’ of my resigning, writes Bishop Dyer after pressure is applied

The full text of the four bishops’ statement can be seen here.

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Opinion – 19 October 2024

Helen King sharedconversations Yet another autumn of Living in Love and Faith

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Sounds like bog-standard Anglicanism to me

Bosco Peters Liturgy Which Bible is Inspired?

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Soul Survivor: more follow-up on Scolding report

The Church Times reports: New working group to look at issues raised by Soul Survivor scandal

AFTER the exposure of “appalling practices and a shocking abuse of power” at Soul Survivor, in reviews by the National Safeguarding Team (NST) and Fiona Scolding KC, a group is being formed to carry out further work, the Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, the lead bishop for safeguarding, said this week.

The working group will look at ordination processes, clergy training and supervision, and safeguarding and governance in church-plants, bishop’s mission orders (BMOs), and mission charities that have an Anglican focus to their work…

The article refers to recent correspondence between a group of General Synod members and the Bishop of Stepney.

See letter to the Bishop of Stepney.  And her reply.

Some background. At General Synod in July a motion was proposed by Robert Thompson but this was substantially amended by Bishop Joanne. See here and then here for the briefings prepared at that time, and over here for the Order Paper containing the motions. The outcome is recorded in the Business Done report.

Today on X (formerly Twitter) Robert Thompson has written this.

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Opinion – 16 October 2024

The Church Mouse Is the Church of England getting out of the marriage business?

‘Graham’ ViaMedia.News Should We Expect Archbishops to Tell the Truth?

David Runcorn Inclusive Evangelicals When Doctrine meets Dinosaurs

108 Comments

LLF: an explanatory video by Bishop Martyn Snow

The Diocese of St Albans has published this 8 minute video on YouTube: Diocesan Synod LLF October 2024.

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Bishop Wambunya accepts CDM penalty

Updated

We reported earlier on the non-canonical ordination conducted by Bishop Tim Wambunya in Berlin in April: Dr Tim Wambunya apologises for his role in a Berlin ordination service.

Today, the Diocese of Lichfield has published a letter from Bishop Wambunya and a comment from the Bishop of Lichfield.
The Church of England website has published this notice

Name: The Right Revd TIMOTHY LIVINGSTONE AMBOKO WAMBUNYA
Diocese: Oxford
Date imposed: 9th October 2024
Relevant CDM section: 16(1)
Statutory Ground of Misconduct: 8(1)(a) Doing any act in contravention of the laws ecclesiastical & 8(1)(d) Conduct unbecoming to the office and work of a Clerk in Holy Orders
Penalty: Rebuke and injunction

The comment from the Bishop of Lichfield reads as follows:

“Bishop Tim has willingly and humbly accepted the Archbishop’s rebuke and injunction for his actions in Germany in April of this year. The injunction requires him to receive some additional training which formalises the need I too recognise, and I welcome that and will play whatever part is required in that. Most of all, I am certain that this process allows all of us to move forward, especially Bishop Tim and the communities of the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area.  It’s now time to celebrate without inhibition Bishop Tim’s arrival in the diocese next week and to welcome the start of his ministry. He brings many gifts an unmistakeable desire for our communities to encounter the good news of a God who loves them and wants their flourishing.”

There appears to be no comment from the Diocese of Oxford.

Update

Church Times Next Bishop of Wolverhampton rebuked for his part in non-canonical ordination

42 Comments

Opinion – 12 October 2024

Marcus Walker The Spectator Why C of E bishops are so bland

Kelvin Holdsworth What in Kelvin’s Head Finding a place to be

Luke Bretherton Comment The Conversion of Public Intellectuals

Al Barrett This estate we’re in When ‘being interrupted’ is not enough

43 Comments

Opinion – 9 October 2024

Mark Vasey-Saunders ViaMedia.News Theological Colleges: Being a Community in the Midst of Disagreement

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church

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Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney

Updated Wednesday

The Scottish Episcopal Church has announced today that the disciplinary proceedings against the Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney have been dropped. The Rt Revd Anne Dyer was suspended in August 2022 following complaints of bullying which she has always denied. This brings to an end the suspension of Bishop Dyer, who will resume duties in the Diocese in due course.

Update: The Church Times has a report here.

The full announcement is copied below.

Canon 54 process concludes after review by independent Procurator
October 8, 2024

During the Canon 54 process enacted following complaints made against the Rt Rev Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the independent Procurator to the Scottish Episcopal Church has kept under continuous review his decision of May this year to take charges to the Clergy Disciplinary Tribunal.

Having maintained that review throughout discussions with involved parties over the past five months, the Procurator, Paul Reid KC, has now decided that it would no longer be in the public interest to pursue the charges, and the Clergy Discipline Tribunal has granted his application to dismiss the proceedings.

In his Note of Reasons explaining his decision not to lead evidence, Mr Reid says: “As with the initial decision to refer allegations to the Tribunal for trial, I have approached each allegation in two stages: (a) is there sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction in respect of the allegation; and (b) whether a prosecution, or the continuation of a prosecution, in respect of each charge is in the ‘public interest’.”

He continues: “I have approached ‘public interest’ in these circumstances by considering the wider Church community and general confidence in the Church.” (more…)

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Appointment of Second Church Estates Commissioner

Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office

Appointment of Second Church Estates Commissioner: 7 October 2024

The King has approved the nomination of Marsha de Cordova, Member of Parliament for Battersea, to be appointed as Second Church Estates Commissioner.

From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 7 October 2024

The King has approved the nomination of Marsha de Cordova, Member of Parliament for Battersea, to be appointed as Second Church Estates Commissioner

Marsha de Cordova is the Labour MP for Battersea, and has been an MP since 8 June 2017.

She was educated at London South Bank University studying Law and European Policy Studies. She was born with Nystagmus and is registered blind.

She has worked for numerous charities including Action for Blind People and Thomas Pocklington Trust before founding the charity South East London Vision (SELVis) in 2014. She was elected as a Labour Party councillor for the Larkhall ward on Lambeth Council in 2014.

Marsha has served in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions) (Disabled People). She also served on the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Petitions Committee.

There is also a press release from the Church Commissoners.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner answers oral and written questions from MPs in the House of Commons about Church of England matters, is a member of Parliament’s Ecclesiastical Committee, and guides Church of England legislation through the House of Commons. She will be a member of the Church Commissioners’ Board of Governors and an ex-officio member of the General Synod.

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Opinion – 5 October 2024

Bosco Peters Liturgy Male and Female?

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Looking for the Qualities of Leadership in our Bishops

Save The Parish Bishop of Chelmsford challenges the Church’s ‘Vision and Strategy’
This is a transcript of the Bishop’s Church Times Podcast that I linked to here.

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Dean of Guildford

Press release from 10 Downing Street. Further information on the Guildford diocesan website.

The King has approved the nomination of The Venerable Robert Gerard Cooper, Archdeacon of Sunderland, in the Diocese of Durham, to be appointed as Dean of Guildford.

Appointment of Dean of Guildford: 3 October 2024

From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 3 October 2024

The King has approved the nomination of The Venerable Robert Gerard Cooper, Archdeacon of Sunderland, in the Diocese of Durham, to be appointed as Dean of Guildford, in succession to The Very Reverend Dianna Gwilliams, following her retirement.

Background

Bob was educated at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and trained for ministry at Lincoln Theological College.

Ordained as Priest in 1994, he served his title at St Mary, Whitkirk, in the Diocese of Ripon. From 1998, he served as Vicar St Matthew, Lightcliffe, in the Diocese of Wakefield (now the Diocese of Leeds) and in 2005, he was appointed as Vicar St Giles and St Mary, Pontefract. From 2006, Bob additionally served as Area Dean.

In 2018, Bob took up his current role as Archdeacon of Sunderland, in the Diocese of Durham.

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Opinion – 2 October 2024

Church Times Podcast: Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani: Encouraging the weary with a word

Trevor Thurston-Smith The Pensive Pilgrim Clothes Maketh the Man : Do Vestments Maketh the Priest?

Richard Peers Oikodomeo Why is it so hard to talk about Walsingham?

Stuart Haynes Seen & Unseen How the curious react to creativity in a cathedral

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Holy Spirit failure to update Church operating systems

Anon & Friends Surviving Church Weighing Church of England Safeguarding on the Scales of Justice 5
[the last in the series]

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Opinion – 28 September 2024

Martyn Percy Surviving Church continuing the series “Weighing Church of England Safeguarding on the Scales of Justice”

Chris Polhill ViaMedia.News 30 Years, 40 Years: And Not Equal Yet

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Soul Survivor Watford: review published

Updated Saturday and again Wednesday

In November 2023 the Trustees of Soul Survivor festivals, Soul Survivor Watford, and Soul61 (collectively known as Soul Survivor) commissioned Fiona Scolding KC to conduct an Independent Review into the culture and practices of Soul Survivor, following the National Safeguarding Team’s investigation into Mike Pilavachi.

Responses

An initial statement from Richard Scorer is copied below the fold.

Updates

Further analysis by Richard Scorer: The Soul Survivor Report – Some Thoughts

God Loves Women: Scolding, Colluding or Both? My critique of the Scolding Review into Soul Survivor and Mike Pilavachi

Church TimesScolding review of Soul Survivor scandal published

For further updates on Soul Survivor, I recommend weekly checking at The Soul Survivor Situation – A Timeline.

(more…)

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Should the CNC procedures be changed?

Two previous articles dealing with this:

Two Church Times articles (both linked previously):

Other opinions:

Andrew Goddard Choosing Bishops: A Failure to Discern?

Anthony Archer Crown Nominations Commission Back in the Firing Line

107 Comments

Opinion – 21 September 2024

Top 1000 funds Church Commissioners: Managing historic real assets for the future

Rosalind Rutherford ViaMedia.News What do Others Think of Us?

Neil Patterson ViaMedia.News Can the Church of England be Mature about Love?

Martyn Percy Meander Crisis, What Crisis?

Bosco Peters Liturgy Do Churches Really Want More People?

Martyn Percy Surviving Church Weighing Church of England Safeguarding on the Scales of Justice: No. 1: Who Pays?

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Bishops back proposals to simplify nomination process for diocesan bishops

Updated Friday evening

As we reported earlier the Church of England’s House of Bishops met today to consider proposals to reform the CNC (Crown Nominations Commission) procedures for nominating diocesan bishops. The proposals are in paragraphs 12 to 14 of HB(24)30. They were accepted with one amendment (which did not alter the proposed change to the CNC procedures) by 27 votes to nine, with three abstentions.

The proposals and their background are summarised in a press release, which is copied  below.

The House met in public and there is a report of their debate in the Church Times.

The CNC procedures are part of the standing orders of General Synod. The bishops’ proposed changes must be agreed by the Synod, which next meets in February 2025. Changes to standing orders can come into effect immediately.

Friday evening update

The Church Times has published a further article House of Bishops’ CNC debate rouses ire of central members.

Press release

Bishops back proposals to simplify nomination process for diocesan bishops
18/09/2024

House of Bishops supports proposals to simplify the Crown Nominations Commission process

The House of Bishops has given its support to proposed changes to the process of nominating future diocesan bishops to the Crown, to simplify the process and help enable a broad representation.

The House – which is made up of the diocesan bishops and other senior bishops in the Church of England – agreed to ask General Synod to consider changing the rules governing how Crown Nominations Commissions (CNCs), which nominate future diocesan bishops, operate.

It follows two cases in the last year in which CNCs were unable to reach agreement to fill vacancies for new bishops.

When a see becomes vacant a CNC gathers to consider possible candidates and put forward a name to the King through the Prime Minister. Once the nomination has been approved by the King, the new bishop is announced by Downing Street. (Note: a ‘see’ is the area of a bishop’s authority and jurisdiction.)

In each case the CNC is made up of a combination of representatives from the local diocese and a group of “central members”, elected from the General Synod to represent the national Church.

Following the two recent cases in which the CNC was unable to appoint (for new Bishops of Carlisle and Ely), the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Advisory Group for Appointments and Vocations, suggested a series of changes including to the voting threshold required to make an appointment.

Under the current Standing Orders, at least two thirds of the members of a CNC must support a nomination before it goes forward. That includes any who decide to abstain.

However, as Bishop Sarah explains in a paper to the House, currently, with 14 members on a CNC, this means 10 members must agree, meaning the threshold is in fact above 71 per cent.

Bishop Sarah proposed:

  • Reducing the threshold required for a nomination to 60 per cent of those voting, also removing any abstentions from the total.
  • Remove the secret ballot.
  • Giving the presiding Archbishop (of Canterbury or York) an additional vote in the event of a deadlock.

Speaking at the bishops’ meeting in Oxford today, she said: “There is a lack of diversity on the CNC, including gender, race, and theology, which has led to a loss of trust in the process.

“Restoring trust will require the process to be competent, consistent, full of integrity, and compassionate. Ultimately, we need to restore confidence in this discernment process under God.”

The House approved a motion welcoming the recommendations by 27 votes to nine, with three abstentions.

Notes to editors

The motion agreed by the House was:

‘That this House, regretting the difficulties in the recent CNC processes as set out in HB(24)30 welcome the recommendations as set out in paragraphs 12 to 14 of that paper and request that work be undertaken to bring the proposals to Synod.’

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Church of England census dashboards

The Church of England has mapped the 2021 Census figures against parishes.

Census Dashboards

These dashboards provide a 1-page parish summary of national census and deprivation data, mapped onto Church of England parish boundaries (boundaries as of October 2023).

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