The Sheldon Community started our ProjectCDM in 2017 in response to significant pastoral concerns around the effects of the Clergy Discipline Measure on clergy. We set ourselves the fourfold task of
- Improving support for those going or been through CDM
- Improving implementation of the existing Measure
- Commissioning independent academic research into the workings of the Measure
- Making evidence based recommendations for the repair or replacement of the Measure
In early 2019 we signed a £48,000 contract with Aston University to undertake independent academic research into the lived experience of CDM. No such research had ever been done before. At the time the subject was such a hot potato that we were only able to raise £5,000 in funding (St Boniface Trust - thank you) so our trustees underwrote the rest from Sheldon's own charity reserves. The research took the form of a highly detailed online survey which was distributed to Church of England clergy through every diocese in the autumn of 2019 gathering unprecendented data from 6,000 participants. Work had begun on assessing this in 2020 when the Covid-19 crisis hit. Under challenging circumstances the preliminary data analysis has been carried out and is presented in the link above. It has been described as a devastating critique of the structure and operation of CDM - all the more so for being based on such a wide-ranging survey.
The decision to replace CDM
On 8th July the House of Bishops unanimously supported Bishop Tim Thornton's motion to work towards complete replacement of the CDM. This is a very significant milestone on the journey of restoring humanity to clergy discipline. We would like to extend our thanks to all the allies who have collaborated to achieve this result. Most especially we want to thank clergy who had been through CDM who took part in the research at significant personal cost - revisiting a highly traumatic experience in order that others might benefit.
The Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 is a Church Measure, approved by Parliament and part of English law so there will now be a lengthy process to draft and legislate its replacement(s). There are pressures to achieve this quickly, but there are also significant risks of repeating the same mistakes if there is not a deep commitment to understand the cultural isues allowed such an abusive process to continue for so long. We also want to minimise the risks for the remaining clergy facing complaints under the old and now discredited system before it is finally consigned to the dustbin of history.
The curtailment of the Aston research project
We are announcing now that we have withdrawn from the Aston contract early. In the face of pandemic-related costs to Sheldon of over £100,000, and with the case for replacement having been successfully made, we felt that saving the final £15,000 of the contract was the best available option. We are currently considering the most effective next steps with the following priorities
- To honour the trust of all who contributed to the research, especially those who have been injured by CDM
- To contribute our research findings and pastoral experience to the official process(es) of replacing the CDM
- Training for mitigating harms of CDMs active until the replacement(s) are legislated
- Supporting people going through CDM or living with the aftermath
We are not yet sure exactly how this translates to action, but are continuing to consult and consider.
Be part of shaping the future
There are a number of workstreams now contributing towards drafting of the replacement(s) of CDM. Whatever emerges will shape the lives and ministries of the next generation of C of E clergy. Sheldon has taken the lead in getting the statue toppled. We will continue to contribute and collaborate, but the next stage needs new leaders to emerge.
The Sheldon Hub provides ideal collaboration space for exchanging and developing ideas. The main working threads currently running are listed below (for logged in users only). We would encourage both Associate and Ministry members to contribute, whether a simple line of agreement, a correction of fact, floating an idea or an in depth analysis/proposal. The Lambeth and ELS threads are directly read by and contributing into those working groups. In due course there may be others, for example related to General Synod process or focusing on out particular details to contribute into the workstreams. We also recommend that people contribute directly to the Lamebeth and ELS processes on the email addresses below
Ecclesiastical Law Society (deadline 31st July - read this first)
Adam Hobson, Bishop Tim Thornton's assistant at Lambeth