House of Bishops Autumn Meeting

23/10/2024

The House of Bishops met in person for its Autumn meeting. The House of Bishops met in Hertfordshire from 22nd-23rd October.

The House discussed the recently proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, the importance of investment in palliative care, the potential risks to vulnerable people and possible unintended consequences for those who might feel a burden to others at the end of their lives. The Bishops reflected on the need for compassion for all those involved in the debate and work on the subject.

In a session on finance, the House received updates on the Triennium Funding Working Group, Diocesan Finances Review and the work of the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board. The Bishops continued to consider material from the Seal of the Confessional Working Group, noting that further legislative steps by Government on mandatory reporting have yet to be announced.

The House agreed to commission further work on safeguarding risk assessments with proposals to come back to the House within 12 months.

The House continued their discussions on the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process. In accordance with the General Synod motion GS 2358 passed in July, the Bishops considered what guidance could be given to the working groups developing the detail of proposals on specific areas of work, including the proposed Bishops Statement and Code of Practice. Additional feedback from the discussions will be provided to the working groups.

The House received an update on progress on the preparation of new policy and guidance on Clergy Files, supporting good safeguarding practice, safer recruitment and record keeping. Following the adoption by the House in May of the pilot template for the Episcopal Reference and Clergy Current Status Letter (CCSL) the House agreed to approve the final version presented with minor changes.

The Bishops had an initial discussion of the report ‘Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters’, exploring the well-being of working class clergy, and committed to further work.

The meeting closed in prayer.

Comment

The Church Times reported that two Church of England pressure groups wrote to the House of Bishops prior to its meeting this week to express hopes and expectations about the next steps in the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process. The groups – Together for the Church of England, which campaigns for wider provision for LGBTQ people in the Church, and the Alliance, which represents opponents of the proposed blessings of same-sex couples – wrote the letters at the invitation of the House of Bishops, copies of which are here and here.

At the meeting, the Bishop of Oswestry along with fellow bishops of The Society, stressed the crucial importance of the absolute confidentiality of the Seal of the Confessional, arguing and lobbying strongly for its retention.