The Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, expressed disappointment at the Church of England’s decision not to adopt a fully independent safeguarding model. She had proposed transferring all Church-employed safeguarding officers to a new independent body but the General Synod voted for a less independent option. Dr Grenfell acknowledged that while this was not the outcome she had hoped for, the changes made by the Church still represent progress.
Representatives of abuse survivors criticized the decision, stating that it was a missed opportunity to show that the Church is listening to victims. The Church has been under intense scrutiny for its safeguarding practices, especially following the resignation of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby over his handling of an abuse case. The Synod voted for the creation of an independent central safeguarding team, but local diocesan and cathedral safeguarding officers will remain with their current employers.
Bishop of Blackburn Philip North proposed the alternative option, citing legal complexities with the fully independent model proposed by Prof Alexis Jay. Despite concerns about the complexity and implementation time of the chosen option, Dr Grenfell reiterated her commitment to further work on operational independence. The Survivors Trust group stated that public trust in the Church’s ability to safeguard children has been lost and called for genuine, independent reform.
Dr Grenfell emphasized that the Church is in a necessary time of reckoning, particularly in light of the need to appoint a new Archbishop of Canterbury. The Church’s handling of safeguarding issues has been criticized, with reports into serial abuser John Smyth leading to further scrutiny. Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, currently taking on most of Mr Welby’s responsibilities, has faced criticism over his handling of an abuse case as well. Despite the disappointment in the two-stage approach to independence in safeguarding, Mr Cottrell committed to implementing Synod’s decision and ensuring it becomes a reality
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