On 13 February 2025, we reported that the General Synod of the Church of England had finally approved the new Clergy Conduct Measure. This post provides links to some earlier developments, the material presented to Synod and the amendments following discussion.
Links to some earlier developments
These are now listed in the General Index under Clergy discipline, CDM and CCM.
Papers Presented to Synod for debate on 12 February
- GS 2311B Clergy Conduct Measure
- GS 2311Z Clergy Conduct Measure Report by the Steering Committee,
- GS 2311X3 Explanatory Notes Clergy Conduct Measure
Amendments following discussion, (scroll down)
- Order Paper, Wednesday 12 February 2025
- Business Done, Wednesday 12 February 2025
The Order Paper notes: “As the special amendments proposed affect the prerogatives and interests of His Majesty, the relevant consent has been applied for and will be signified by a Privy Counsellor before the Final Drafting Stage is commenced.
Amendments 516 to 519 on Order Paper V were carried:
- Bishops: 25 for; 0 against; 0 abstentions
- Clergy: 128 for; 0 against; 1 abstention
- Laity: 145 for; 0 against; 2 abstentions.
The amendments were:
516 Clause 16: ‘After subsection (7) insert—
“(7A) A complaint against a clerk in Holy Orders who holds office in a Royal Peculiar may be made in so far as the rules may provide; and for that purpose, the rules may apply provisions of this Measure with modifications.”.’ ‘In subsection (8), leave out “(7)” and insert “(7A)”.’.
517 Clause 37: ‘After subsection (2) insert—
“(3) A penalty of removal from an ecclesiastical office imposed on an archbishop or bishop, or on a person holding a preferment the right to appoint to which is vested in His Majesty (and which is not a parochial benefice), does not take effect unless and until His Majesty by Order in Council confirms the penalty.”.’
518 Clause 58: ‘After subsection (4) insert—
“(4A) The rules must make provision for a case where a conviction or caution on which a clerk’s inclusion on the list is based becomes protected by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.”.’
519 Clause 68: ‘In subsection (6), leave out “other than a Royal peculiar”.’ ‘After subsection (6) insert—
“(6A) Accordingly, an extra-diocesan place is to be treated as being in the province which includes the diocese in which, by virtue”.’
Final Approval Stage: 501 ‘That the Measure entitled “Clergy Conduct Measure” be finally approved.’
The Measure now goes forward for its Parliamentary stages and Royal Assent, with Rules to be laid before the Synod in July and a Code of Practice to be finalised thereafter. The new Measure could come into operation from early 2026.