THREE clerics who carried out an audit of diocesan maternity policies have welcomed an update on progress made since its publication; but they’re still receiving reports from moms of “unfair treatment and dioceses not following the policies they’ve in place”.
The Clergy Babies Maternity Policy Audit was published last yr by the Revd Dr Rae Caro, Priest-in-Charge of St Mark’s, Shiremoor, in Newcastle diocese; the Revd Chantal Noppen, a priest in Durham diocese; and the Revd Caroline Taylor, Vicar of Marton-in-Cleveland with Easterside, in York diocese. Their study found that only five of 40 dioceses broadly met the 2020 national guidelines on family-friendly policy, on the idea of data available on diocesan web sites (News, 10 May 2024).
Last week, an update on progress in maternity provision was published amongst this month’s General Synod papers, signed by the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers. It reports that “in some cases provision on the bottom was more generous than that suggested by the knowledge available on web sites on the time of the audit. . . Some women clergy had had a far more positive experience on maternity leave than the report might suggest was the case.” Several dioceses had since updated and improved the presentation of data on their web sites.
Since publication of the audit, greater than half of the dioceses had updated their maternity provision “to either fully meet the recommendations of the national guidance or to maneuver more closely into line with the guidance”. An additional quarter were “within the technique of reviewing and/or updating their policy but had not accomplished this on the time that the conversations [with the Ministry Development Team] took place”.
The report refers to “a general desire to be generous by way of maternity provision and to enhance consistency between dioceses”. It records that the audit has inspired dioceses to attract on the examples of excellent practice identified. “The Ministry Development Board want to thank the authors of the report for the work that they’ve undertaken.”
The update also refers back to the opportunities presented by the Diocesan Finances Review. The latest paper on this review, produced by the Archbishops’ Council, refers to “opportunities where a single national HR policy for clergy is perhaps advantageous. Such policies can be developed and revised in dialogue with dioceses ‘once for all’ slightly than in 42 separate processes and thereby could reduce the executive burden on dioceses and make it easier to offer guidance and support. Initial areas of interest include maternity, paternity and sabbatical polices but others are prone to present themselves sooner or later.”
On Tuesday, a press release from the three authors of the unique audit thanked the advisory group, and said that they were “heartened by the progress that has been and is being made . . . As we noted in our report, we were aware that the situation on the bottom was often higher than was presented on web sites and we have a good time this information being available to those that need it.” It clarifies, in response to 1 claim within the report, that they’ve not received any updated policy for review.
“We encourage and would love to see greater consistency and transparency to policies, and hope there will likely be further consideration given to how the realities and lived experience of those taking maternity leave might be heard and dioceses held accountable for shortcomings,” it says. “Through Clergy Babies we’re still receiving reports from women having babies of unfair treatment and dioceses not following the policies they’ve in place. This is a live issue for the Church.”
