Venerable Mark Ireland - Archdeacon of Blackburn

announces proposal to combat bullying of Clergy by laity in the Church of England

 

At the meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England in York on 12 July, during a debate on the new Clergy Conduct Measure, the Venerable Mark Ireland announced his intention to introduce a Private Members' Motion to combat bullying of clergy by laity to

Synod

 

 

This motion will ultimately give the force of law to rules to prevent members of laity from bullying either the clergy or one another - penalties such as dismissal as Churchwarden or disqualification from membership of the PCC are envisaged.

 

Here is the text of Mark's Private Member's Motion:

 

That this Synod, recognising:

• that bullying is unacceptable behaviour within the Church of God, whether by clergy or lay people, and where it exists needs to be addressed;
• and the serious pastoral problems and unfairness that arise while clergy can be subject to penalties for bullying that include prohibition and removal from office but there is no means of disqualifying a churchwarden, PCC member or other lay officer who is guilty of bullying from holding office;

request the Archbishops’ Council to bring forward legislative proposals which would enable a churchwarden, PCC member or other lay officer who was found to have conducted him- or her-self in such a manner to be disqualified from holding office.’

 

 

In the meantime, you can watch Mark's announcement on the YouTube film below which should start to play at the moment of his announcement, but which you may need to set to 2 hrs and 09 minutes