The Common Synod’s choice to maintain the Church of England’s diocesan and cathedral safeguarding officers as church staff arguably confirmed good judgement and braveness.
Synod members got here below robust political strain in the course of the debate on the way forward for safeguarding to switch all safeguarding workers employed by dioceses and cathedrals to an exterior physique.
In a strong speech on the Synod assembly at Church Home, Westminster, on February 11, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, who fields questions within the Home of Commons in regards to the established Church, pushed onerous for full outsourcing below the mannequin 4 choice that members later voted down.
She mentioned: “It’s important that this meeting exhibits each Parliament and the general public that the Church is totally dedicated to vary …Whereas I respect implementation of this method will take time and sources, and alter won’t occur in a single day, mannequin 4 would be the first step in direction of restoring belief.”
She concluded: “If we wish to honour victims and survivors, and if we wish to work in direction of the type of church we would like for the long run, then that change should start now.
“Synod, I hope you’ll allow me to face up in Parliament later this month at Church Commissioners’ questions to have the ability to report excellent news to the Members of Parliament.”
However Synod’s choice to maintain diocesan and cathedral safeguarding workers in home whereas transferring a lot of the nationwide safeguarding workers to an impartial physique is rational.
When Synod legislated in July 2023 in keeping with the suggestions of the Unbiased Inquiry into Baby Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to improve diocesan safeguarding advisers (DSAs) to diocesan safeguarding officers (DSOs), that secured their operational independence from bishops. The DSOs have been now not mere advisers to bishops however safeguarding professionals employed by diocesan boards of finance.
The authorized change gave DSOs duty for safeguarding management in dioceses and meant that the Church’s Nationwide Safeguarding Workforce (NST) grew to become chargeable for the skilled supervision of DSOs over the heads of diocesan bishops.
What bishop in his or her proper thoughts would attempt to lower throughout a DSO in a safeguarding investigation? Such a bishop would instantly be reported to the NST and disciplinary motion would observe. When the Church’s nationwide safeguarding officers grow to be employed by an impartial physique, the whistle-blowing powers of DSOs would improve exponentially.
A letter to Common Synod members prematurely of their debate in London from 106 safeguarding practitioners within the C of E, which presently spends round £20 million per 12 months on safeguarding, had argued: “Detaching the Church of England’s safeguarding workers from their present employers will nearly inevitably create further limitations to communication and cooperation, harming service supply.
“On condition that ‘service supply’ on this context includes defending youngsters and weak adults, any limitations by any means might have probably the most severe penalties. The very final thing the Church of England wants is to disrupt the working relationships between church officers and the safeguarding professionals who work with them.”
When it got here to the vote, the vast majority of Synod members selected to agree with these safeguarding professionals in defiance of exterior strain, which prompts the query: why will not Synod present the identical rationality and independence of thoughts amidst the strain to push forward with homosexual marriage ceremony celebrations?
Although the C of E’s bishops, deeply divided amongst themselves, are delaying the introduction of stand-alone companies to bless same-sex {couples}, which might successfully be homosexual marriage ceremony celebrations, the prospect of them taking place is inflicting turmoil and division within the Church.
In December final 12 months, the Telegraph newspaper reported that C of E conservatives are gearing as much as ordain their very own ministers in protest towards same-sex blessings. The paper reported: “The Rev William Taylor, a number one determine within the Church’s evangelical wing, mentioned that traditionalists plan to organise unofficial ordinations subsequent 12 months.”
Taylor, Rector of St Helen’s Bishopsgate within the Metropolis of London, had informed the Pastor’s Coronary heart podcast within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australia, {that a} group of conservative ministers “will probably be ordained in 2025 for positive”.
The Telegraph described the transfer as representing “a serious escalation throughout the Church’s deepening divide over homosexual relationships as a result of solely bishops – the vast majority of whom assist same-sex blessings – are allowed to ordain ministers.
“The unofficial ordinations are anticipated to set off a livid response from the Church of England’s hierarchy, which can refuse to recognise them as legitimate.”
The Church stays below nice political and media strain to launch the stand-alone companies and to permit clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriages. But when Synod members can defy the strain to go for the total outsourcing of safeguarding for good causes, why not present the identical rationality over same-sex blessings and keep away from a complete load of bother?
Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist primarily based in Lancashire.
