Replacing the Clergy Discipline Measure

a risk of sub-optimal proposals going to General Synod in February

Lambeth working group - urgent consultations

The Lambeth Working Group led by Bishop Tim Thornton published its proposals on Friday for replacing the CDM. The Zoom consultation meetings start this Wednesday and the deadline for responses is 20th December. This is clearly not ideal timing for clergy.

If you cannot reasonably digest and comment on the material in this timescale and/or take part in the Zoom consultations we recommend that you indicate the need for more time by

1. Posting in this thread on the Hub and/or

2. emailing Adam Hobson direct at adam.hobson@lambethpalace.org.uk

3. Alternative proposals from ELS working party

The Ecclesiastical Law Society has been independently working up alternative recommendations for replacing CDM. The documents are publicly linked here, and the current Hub thread is here.

CDM Academic Research - emerging findings (sheldonhub.org)

They too are seeking feedback by 20th December via the Hub or to cdmconsultation@gmail.com

The ELS is taking quite a different approach to Lambeth and has already developed its proposals in much more detail. Sheldon is minded to support this track as the one that better addresses our original concerns about the impact on clergy and the wider church. The independent academic research amply demonstrated the failings of the current system.

Time to act

Your diary is probably pressured at this time of year, even without a pandemic to complicate things. We guess most clergy won't have time or inclination to digest lengthy papers or take part in consultations right now.

We do suggest you make your voice heard by asking for more time to allow for proper consultation in the new year. Otherwise there may be a risk of sub-optimal proposals going to General Synod in February. After that the direction of travel will be harder to change.

We will be publishing Sheldon's more detailed feedback on the Hub in due course.

https://www.sheldonhub.org/res...

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Bishop at Lambeth replies:
CDM20201208 Re CDM Consultations
Church Times reports:
CDM reform: national or regional solutions? (churchtimes.co.uk)

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