C of E facing an ‘existential crisis’
The C of E is facing “one of the biggest existential crises … since the Reformation,” following the Makin review of abuse perpetrated by John Smyth. That is the view of the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Jonathan Gibbs.
He was speaking recently after his diocesan synod had voted in favour of a motion that expressed no confidence in the Archbishops’ Council’s past oversight of safeguarding.
Dr Gibbs said: “In many people’s views, and I think I would share it, this is one of the biggest existential crises that the C of E has faced since the Reformation. There is a real need for what I would call a pastoral response, acknowledging that hurt and pain, particularly of victims and survivors, that so many people are feeling.”
The bishop said there should also be “a call to prayer and repentance across the Church, leading to a period of deep reflection on the kind of cultural change that is needed at all levels.”
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Safeguarding bishops apologise to survivors following Archbishop’s speech
The Lead Bishops for Safeguarding, Joanne Grenfell, Julie Conalty and Robert Springett wrote to survivors and their advocates, following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s last speech in the House of Lords at the end of December.
“We write after watching Archbishop Justin’s farewell speech in the House of Lords yesterday. We have heard from several of you about the distress and anger that this has caused you.
“Both in content and delivery, the speech was utterly insensitive, lacked any focus on victims and survivors of abuse, especially those affected by John Smyth, and made light of the events surrounding the Archbishop’s resignation. It was mistaken and wrong. We acknowledge and deeply regret that this has caused further harm to you in an already distressing situation.
“We know that the Church of England has seriously failed over many years at many levels in relation to safeguarding, and we are so sorry that yesterday’s speech was the antithesis of all that we are now trying to work towards in terms of culture change and redress with all of you.
“As lead bishops for safeguarding in the Church of England, we apologize to you. We will continue to do all we can to change the culture of the Church, so that abuse is exposed and prevented, those in authority are held to account.
“If you are or are in contact with someone affected by this letter, please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit this webpage where other support services are listed.”
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Statement on BBC File on Four programme – David Tudor
The C of E has responded to the recent story about David Tudor on the BBC.
It said: ‘The appalling abuse committed by former Church of England rector David Tudor, highlighted in the BBC File on Four documentary, is a grievous breach of trust and we commend the courage of those survivors who came forward.
‘The BBC Programme revealed a catalogue of past safeguarding decisions that allowed someone who was considered a risk in the 1980s to return to ministry in the 1990s. This should never have happened.’
David Tudor, who served in the diocese of Chelmsford, was suspended by the former Bishop of Chelmsford in 2019 following new information, and was prohibited from ministry for life by a Bishops Disciplinary Tribunal in October 2024.
‘The prohibition followed a full admission of guilt to disclosures of serious sexual abuse, relating to the time when he was a priest in the Diocese of Southwark and includes serious sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.”
Safeguarding decisions and all appointments today are subject to very clear guidance issued by the House of Bishops, which was not in place at the 1990s. It is currently being strengthened further.
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Christmas and Easter congregations swell as C of E sees third year of growth
Attendance at Christmas services leapt by 20 per cent in 2023, and the number of worshippers at Easter was up 8.6 per cent, as Church of England congregations experienced a third year of growth, the latest statistics show.
The number of regular worshippers edged above a million in 2023 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Statistics for Mission 2023 report.
Overall attendance remains below 2019 levels, but the report shows numbers recovering towards the pre-pandemic trend.
Overall weekly attendance at Church of England churches rose to 693,000 in 2023, from 663,000 in 2022, an increase of 4.5 per cent. Meanwhile the number of children attending weekly increased from 90,000 in 2022 to 95,000 (up 4.9 per cent in a year).
The Church of England’s overall ‘worshipping community’ rose to 1,007,000 in 2023, from 982,000 the previous year. Just under two million people (1,961,000) attended services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2023, up from 1,636,000 in 2022.
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National Society calls for long-term curriculum and assessment reform
The National Society for Education has published its response to the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, calling for a long-term vision for reform that places equity and aspiration at the heart of education.
The response advocates for systemic changes, to ensure that “all children flourish, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Key proposals include:
- Blending academic, technical, and vocational pathways
- Strengthening the quality and status of Religious Education (RE)
- Addressing the needs of marginalised groups
- Resourcing teachers and schools to deliver high-quality learning
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‘Male allies’ initiative to launch
A new initiative to enable male Baptist ministers to be better allies for women in ministry and leadership will begin in early 2025
Project Violet is a major study into women’s experience of ministry, which has sought to understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in England and Wales.
One of its 57 requests for change – Request 12 – is a ‘Call for male ministers to be allies in private and public.’