Thinking Anglicans

House of Bishops – 26 September 2022

Press release from the Church of England

House of Bishops – 26 September 2022
26/09/2022

The House of Bishops met by Zoom for its September meeting.

The meeting began with a series of reflections on the passing of the Queen, with the Bishop of Coventry offering condolences and a vote of thanks on behalf of the House.

An update was then given by the Enabling Officer of the Living in Love and Faith project. The paper updated the House on current timelines and changes, following the cancellation of the College of Bishops in September, due to the death of the Queen. The paper, outlining the proposed approach over the coming months was noted by the House.

The House was then addressed by the Secretary of the House on the inflation and energy crisis, and how it was affecting churches and the wider community. The House discussed work under way on how the national Church institutions may be able to contribute to helping dioceses and churches deal with the extra costs in the coming winter.

The Bishop of Guildford then gave an update on the work of the national governance Review Project Board. Since its formation in February 2022, the National Church Governance Project Board (NGPB) has been developing its proposals in relation to the governance of the National Church Institutions (NCI). The paper shared the Project Board’s proposals so far and sought guidance and assurance from the House on the current direction of travel. The House provided comments on issues such as the future board composition of the Church of England National Services (CENS) and the creation of a Nominations Committee.

The House was then addressed by members of the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) updating the House on the work of the Board which provides independent oversight and scrutiny to the work of the National Safeguarding Team and the broader safeguarding culture across the Church of England. The lead bishop for safeguarding updated the House more generally on safeguarding matters.

The meeting then concluded in prayer.

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Malcolm Liles
Malcolm Liles
1 year ago

No sign then of recognition of the effect of the clergy pension cap being limited to 3.5% or 5% when inflation is more than 10% and the need to maintain the value of that pension in an era of high inflation. What will it take to make the Church respond to its responsibility to prevent further pension diminution?

Perry Butler
Perry Butler
Reply to  Malcolm Liles
1 year ago

A particular worry I am sure for those clergy in Pension Board retirement property.

Susannah Clark
1 year ago

Does the ISB have a website yet?

Gilo
Gilo
Reply to  Susannah Clark
1 year ago

The ISB website is currently delayed by 79 days. A relatively minor delay compared to that of the Makin Review into the Church’s handling of the Smyth abuses…. 848 days.

House of Survivors site:

https://houseofsurvivors.org/late-overdue/

Susannah Clark
Reply to  Gilo
1 year ago

Thanks Gilo. Yes, well… Checking back on an earlier post if mine, I was reminded: From the very early stages, it was proposed that “To ensure maximum transparency, the ISB should establish a website, serviced by the administrative officer, on which all its reports, formal minutes etc. are posted. There should be a clear link to the ISB website from the Church of England’s own website.” (February 2021) That was 19 months ago. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t find that ‘clear link’ to the website on the Church of England website and, as you say, all we have 19… Read more »

Fr Dean
Fr Dean
1 year ago

‘the passing of the Queen’ – bishops ought not to resort to euphemisms about death. I’ve never heard of a vote of thanks for someone who has died before either.

Simon Kershaw
Reply to  Fr Dean
1 year ago

And if you are going to use a euphemism in this case then it is “the demise of the Crown”.

Unreliable Narrator
Unreliable Narrator
Reply to  Simon Kershaw
1 year ago

Not only a euphemism but a malapropism. “Demise” means passing something from one person to another. The Demise of the Crown refers to the succession of, in this case, King Charles III, to the Crown immediately following the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Simon Kershaw
Reply to  Unreliable Narrator
1 year ago

Perhaps metonymy or synecdoche rather than malapropism, I suggest.

Unreliable Narrator
Unreliable Narrator
Reply to  Simon Kershaw
1 year ago

Metonymy perhaps, since the demise is an adjunct of the death. Not synecdoche, since the demise is not part of the death, nor is the death part of the demise.

Clifford Jones
Clifford Jones
Reply to  Simon Kershaw
1 year ago

In a book of my  own I express the view that use of the term ‘the Crown’ to mean ‘the reigning monarch’ has an element both of synecdoche and of metonymy. The book is:

Jones J.C. ‘Concepts in Scientific Writing’ BookBoon, Frederiksberg (2015).

Having introduced synecdoche and of metonymy  in general terms, I go on to give examples in  technical writing. I give as an example of metonymy:

‘One looks to Detroit for up-to-date information on engine lubricants’

where ‘Detroit’ means ‘automobile manufacturers based in Detroit’.

The book is downloadable free on the BookBoon web site. It was written in the setting of a bleak Gippsland winter.

Unreliable Narrator
Unreliable Narrator
Reply to  Clifford Jones
1 year ago

Metonymy in the case of rulers has a long history. The title “Pharaoh” for an ancient Egyptian king literally means “great house” and is the precise analogue of the modern term “the palace” referring to the monarch.

David Lamming
David Lamming
1 year ago

Once again we have an anodyne press release that tells us nothing of substance about the discussions that took place. For no apparent reason, it also fails to name various officers mentioned. Specifically: Who is the Enabling Officer of the LLF project and why can the paper he/she presented not be published? Who is the Secretary of the House (is it William Nye?), and what “work is under way on how the national Church institutions may be able to contribute to helping dioceses and churches deal with the extra costs in the coming winter.” Does this signal that the Archbishops’… Read more »

Mark Bennet
Mark Bennet
Reply to  David Lamming
1 year ago

As usual, David, you make some good points. If the House of Bishops aspires to any leadership role which will have actual traction, it needs to say more. Else the bishops will imagine they are leading and will not notice the paucity of followers. Perhaps they are worrying about the people who won’t follow, rather than those who will? On LLF, I feel (as an LLF advocate) that the [very small] LLF team have been tasked with challenging the culture of the Church of England, and would love to be more open and transparent. “Culture change” was advertised at IICSA,… Read more »

Kate
Kate
1 year ago

I despair of this House of Bishops. All of the bishops and archbishops should have come together for a requiem mass for the repose of the soul of Her Late Majesty in whose name they held office. As well as being the right thing to do, it would have been such good publicity aka mission. Instead, they give a vote of thanks at a closed meeting.

David Lamming
David Lamming
Reply to  Kate
1 year ago

Presumably the condolences were offered to His Majesty the King and other members of the Royal Family, so could it perhaps be that the ‘vote of thanks’ was to/for those who organised and took part in the State Funeral, and all the events that preceded or related to it following the Queen’s death? This is another instance of where the press release is inadequate. And did the Bishop of Coventry really offer a vote of thanks “on behalf of the House” as opposed to proposing a vote of thanks to which all the bishops concurred?

Last edited 1 year ago by David Lamming
Valerie Aston
Valerie Aston
Reply to  Kate
1 year ago

I believe that last Wednesday Cardinal Roche celebrated a Mass of Remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II in the basilica of Saint Paul Without the Walls.

Peter
Peter
1 year ago

It is impossible to have any confidence in these meetings and their bland press releases. There is a total lack of relevance to everyday life, and the disconnection from what people are currently living through makes the bishops press release painful to read. Nobody with any sense has any confidence in LLF. It was a hopeless exercise doomed to disappoint everyone. All it has highlighted is the lack of moral courage, theological wisdom and basic care and compassion within CofE leadership. The NST, ISB and all the other safeguarding bodies are not remotely trusted, and lack basic competence and are… Read more »

A Menage
A Menage
Reply to  Peter
1 year ago

In a nutshell. Well said!

Desmond Banister
Desmond Banister
1 year ago

I am, glad that others, like me, noticed the reference to the ‘passing’ of HM the Queen. If the Bishops of the CofE are unable to bring themselves to speak/write about ‘death’, is it any wonder that many in the pews are unable to do so either. It may be, of course, that the press release was written by someone other than a bishop. If so, it seems to me that the bishops need to make clear how they expect such a press release to be formulated.

Kate
Kate
Reply to  Desmond Banister
1 year ago

Personally I like the verb to pass, in a Christian sense as it signals that death isn’t an end but merely passage to another kingdom.

Richard
Richard
Reply to  Kate
1 year ago

“He was crucified, passed, and was buried.” No!!! You had to use the word “death” to convey your idea. I’ll pass on pass.

Janet Fife
Janet Fife
Reply to  Desmond Banister
1 year ago

Talking of someone passing always makes me wonder what they’re passing – the port, perhaps?

Jo B
Jo B
Reply to  Janet Fife
1 year ago

Presumably a necessary precursor to “crossing the bar”, as Tennyson had it.

God 'elp us all
God 'elp us all
Reply to  Janet Fife
1 year ago

Water or wind passed maybe; perhaps the former into the latter?

I note the increasing extent of expectation as the Bishops’ House Meeting draws on- … and then … and then …. and then … hardly the style of writing advocated when I was at school; nor of minute-taking, but then this is only a Press Release, the purpose of which is …?

If wind, maybe some kind of Sirocco, or Aeolian? No suggestion of Squall or Squabble.

In passing, are similar Press Releases released in relation to meetings of the House of Clergy, or the House of Laity?

Stephen Griffiths
Stephen Griffiths
1 year ago

Here’s hoping the HoB is refreshed by some new intake soon. Does anyone know if the Newcastle and Liverpool CNCs stuck to their respective timetables? If so we should have had announcements by now. Or perhaps the new CNC members elected by General Synod are standing firm.

Stephen Griffiths
Stephen Griffiths
Reply to  Peter Owen
1 year ago

Thank you. So the new central CNC members cut their teeth on the Blackburn appointment. With some clearly conservative votes from the central members and the diocesan members that one could be very interesting.

Stephen Griffiths
Stephen Griffiths
Reply to  Peter Owen
1 year ago

Righto. So a nice easy one for the new central CNC members to start with: Lincoln.

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