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Vacancies and moves
General Synod has voted in favour of a motion brought by The Archdeacon of Blackburn, Ven. Mark Ireland, asking the Archbishops' Council to bring forward legislative proposals to allow lay officers found guilty of bullying to be disqualified from holding office.
The motion sought to address an imbalance of accountability in relationships where lay volunteers currently face no significant consequences if found to have exhibited bullying behaviour.
An introductory paper explained that, whereas clergy are subject to the Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM) process, there remains no proportionate and accessible means by which laity can be held to account for their actions.
The paper cited the impact upon mental health, physical health and sense of Christian Community of a parish when a churchwarden or lay officer is exercising controlling or bullying behaviour.
It highlighted that bullying behaviour is not tolerated in other areas of society, with other organisations that relay on both paid workers and volunteers having in clear policies and procedures in place for when instances of bullying and harassment do occur.
- Read the full story here
- Watch Archdeacon Mark speak to speak to his motion here (from 2h 50m 10s) with the continuation of the debate to follow
- Read the full text of Archdeacon Mark's speech to Synod here