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General Synod of the Church of England

February and July 2021

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2022

Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson*
Affiliation:
Senior Advisory Lawyer, Legal Office of the Church of England
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Extract

This report covers the groups of sessions held in April and July 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, General Synod did not meet formally in February.

Type
Synod Reports
Information
Ecclesiastical Law Journal , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , January 2022 , pp. 87 - 88
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Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical Law Society 2021

INTRODUCTION

This report covers the groups of sessions held in April and July 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, General Synod did not meet formally in February.

SAFEGUARDING

The Draft Safeguarding (Code of Practice) Measure came back for revision in full Synod, final drafting and final approval. Once in force, the Measure requires the House of Bishops to issue a code of practice on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, replacing the current duty to have ‘due regard’. Synod also took note of a report on the response to the recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

CLERGY DISCIPLINE

In April, Synod passed amendments to the Clergy Discipline Rules 2005 and approved updates to the Code of Practice. In July, Synod took note of the final report by the House of Bishops’ Working Group on the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 (CDM). The working group propose the replacement of the CDM with a ‘Clergy Conduct Measure’. An implementation group has been established to bring legislative proposals to Synod.

OTHER BUSINESS

The April group of sessions agreed a motion concerning international religious freedom. The November group of sessions agreed motions noting the housing crisis; commending the report of the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing, Church and Community; establishing a new body, ‘Life in Covenant’, to continue the work of the Anglican–Methodist Covenant; taking note of the report from the Implementation and Dialogue Group; and welcoming the consultation paper on the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011.

The following were approved: Churches Conservation Trust Order 2021; Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 2021; Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers And Others (Fees) Order 2021; the Trust Deed and Rules of the Church of England Funded Pension Scheme; Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 2021; Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms Of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2021; and Vacancy in See Committees (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

DISSOLUTION

In July, the Convocations of Canterbury and York were dissolved and in consequence the General Synod was also dissolved.

Footnotes

Edited by Frank Cranmer

The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt the holding of synods and governing bodies throughout 2021. As a result, the second meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales was delayed until 6 September and the General Synod of the Church of Ireland met remotely from 30 September to 2 October – both too late to meet the copy deadline for this number of the Journal. We will include reports on Ireland and Wales in the second issue of 2022 [FC].