Reform Church of England clergy discipline for safeguarding
IICSA · The Anglican Church Investigation Report · Issued 6 October 2020 · Addressed to: Church of England
Government responseNo response yet
DeliveryNo statement from Church of England found
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation, C
The Church of England should make changes and improvements to the way in which it responds to safeguarding complaints (whether related to allegations of abuse, or a failure to comply with or respond to the Church's safeguarding policies and procedures) to: disapply the 12-month time-limit for all complaints with a safeguarding element brought under the Clergy Discipline Measure; reintroduce the power to depose from holy orders where a member of the clergy is found guilty of child sexual abuse offences; introduce a mandatory 'code of practice' to improve the way that safeguarding issues are handled across the Clergy Discipline Measure and capability procedures, including a framework for responding to issues that do not amount to misconduct; make clear that penalty by consent must never be used in relation to such complaints; ensure confidentiality agreements are not put in place in relation to such complaints; and ensure that those handling such complaints are adequately and regularly trained.
IICSA, The Anglican Church Investigation Report · 6 Oct 2020 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse reported in October 2022 that the Church of England stated in March 2021 that it endorses proposals to replace the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 with a new set of provisions (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). The inquiry noted that these provisions would include a disciplinary process, a mandatory code of practice, and the removal of the 12-month time limit for safeguarding-related complaints (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022). It also recorded that the church intended to bring forward legislation to reintroduce the power to depose from holy orders as soon as practicable, while the National Church Institutions' Legal Office had taken steps to introduce new training for diocesan complaint handlers (The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Oct 2022).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.
Government response
●No formal government response recorded
The Index has not yet recorded a verbatim government response to this recommendation.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Church of England has been found in the sources searched. This is separate from the response above.
What other bodies have found
●Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse · 20 Oct 2022
On 25 November 2020, the Church of England stated it endorses the proposals to replace the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 with a new set of provisions. These will place emphasis on the standard of conduct which is required of clergy and which will also make provision for the handling of poor practice or capability. The Church of England also notes that this new approach will make specific provision for matters which have a safeguarding element. On 4 December 2020, the Church of England’s Working Group published a progress report on its review of the working of the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) 2003. The Group’s work identifies significant areas for change to the Measure as it stands and proposes that new legislation is needed to replace the Measure. In the interim, a number of measures have been developed, including regular training for key participants in the CDM process. The Working Group also notes that the possible reintroduction of the penalty of Deposition from Holy Orders will most likely be considered as part of the longer-term work dealing with replacing the CDM. On 29 March 2021, the Church of England (CoE) stated that it endorses the proposals of the CDM working group to replace CDM 2003 with a new set of provisions. Those provisions will include a disciplinary process and will be accompanied by a mandatory code of practice, which will emphasise the standard of conduct which is required of clergy. The proposed CDM reform will also disapply the 12 month time limit for all safeguarding-related complaints.The CoE also stated that legislation to reintroduce the power to depose from holy orders will be brought forward as soon as practicable. In addition, the CoE stated that the National Church Institutions’ Legal Office has taken steps to introduce new training for those who handle complaints in dioceses in connection with the special measures which may be required, which continues to be developed.
From: Recommendations - The Anglican Church investigation report
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