{"id":126778,"date":"2024-02-09T17:04:48","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T22:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=126778"},"modified":"2024-02-09T18:09:18","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T23:09:18","slug":"church-times-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=126778","title":{"rendered":"(Church Times) C of E General Synod asked to tackle bullying behaviour by lay people in church"},"content":{"rendered":"

LEGAL sanction<\/a>, including the possibility of disqualification from holding office, is necessary to address\u00a0bullying<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0lay officer<\/a>-holder<\/a>s<\/a>, a motion set to be debated by General Synod this month argues.<\/p>\n

The private members\u2019 motion, brought by the Archdeacon of Blackburn, the Ven. Mark Ireland, asks the Synod to recognise \u201cthe 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,\u00a0PCC<\/a>\u00a0member, or other lay officer who is guilty of bullying from holding office\u201d.<\/p>\n

It asks the\u00a0Archbishops\u2019 Council<\/a>\u00a0to \u201cbring forward legislative proposals which would enable a churchwarden, PCC member, or other lay officer who was found to have conducted him-or herself in such a manner to be disqualified from holding office\u201d.<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Two motions set to be debated at Synod this month tackling bullying by lay officers and destructive behaviour on PCCs. Bishops said to be reluctant to recommend some parishes \u2018knowing that a series of previous incumbents have been hounded out of office\u2019 https:\/\/t.co\/Cc0aAGaI9Z<\/a><\/p>\n

— Madeleine Davies (@MadsDavies) February 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n