Following a meeting of the Bishop’s Diocesan Council this week, members have written to churches, schools and communities in the diocese to share their views on the current situation facing the Church of England.
The letter is the result of a discussion at the meeting about the Makin report and the response nationally and locally. This session ended with the unanimous decision by the council. A letter will also be sent to the Archbishop of York and the Archbishop’s Council.
You can read the full text of the letter here:
Over the last three weeks the safeguarding failures of the Church of England have been laid bare yet again.
We are hearing clearly from survivors and victims of abuse in this diocese and beyond that the national church response is causing intense pain. It has deeply and repeatedly hurt the people we are here to serve and has demoralised those who are trying to do the right thing in parishes, schools, chaplaincies and other places.
As the Bishop’s Council we join our voice to Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley’s prophetic call for us to be a different sort of church. A church that does not seek first to protect itself, but which champions those who are most vulnerable. A church where people with power are clearly and consistently held accountable.
Fundamental changes to the way the church works have been recommended and accepted again and again, but too often real change has been delayed or denied. The House of Bishops and Archbishops Council have failed to implement the recommendations made in numerous reports and reviews, and we call for urgent change and action to show that national leadership is ready and able to lead the changes required.”
The Bishop’s Council is grateful to survivors who contributed to this wording.
This letter is being sent to clergy, Readers, lay leaders, school headteachers, Church Wardens, Parish Safeguarding Officers, PCC secretaries and Church House staff. We continue to be grateful to you for your work to promote safeguarding and to show God’s love in the world. Please use and share this letter and the Council’s statement as is most helpful to you and the communities that you lead and serve. It will also be posted to the diocesan website.
The Diocese of Truro is committed to a trauma-informed response. If you have been affected by this information, need support or wish to make a disclosure, we are here and we are listening. You can speak to the Diocesan Safeguarding team directly here or to the independent and confidential support service First Light. You can also contact the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel here.
Signed on behalf of every member of the Bishop’s Diocesan Council,
Bishop Hugh Nelson (Acting Bishop of Truro)
Archdeacon Kelly Betteridge (Archdeacon of Bodmin)
Archdeacon Clive Hogger (Archdeacon of Cornwall)
Dean Simon Robinson (Dean of Truro Cathedral)
Justin Day (Chair of the Board of Finance)
Roger Smith (Chair of the House of Laity)
Revd Paul Zaphiriou (Chair of the House of Clergy)
Council members represent the diversity of the diocese geographically, in church tradition, in church size and in perspective. You can see the members of the council here.
