Sarah Mullally’s tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury has begun with a blitz of recent measures aimed toward improving the Church of England’s safeguarding practices and culture.
Her predecessor, Justin Welby, resigned resulting from his own failings in coping with abuse allegations against the late John Smyth. The Church of England has also recently struggled with a scandal surrounding the founding father of Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, who was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2013.
A Church investigation into Pilavachi’s conduct in 2023 “concluded that he used his spiritual authority to regulate people and that his coercive and controlling behaviour led to inappropriate relationships, the physical wrestling of youths and massaging of young male interns”.
Pilavachi subsequently resigned his position at Soul Survivor and his licence to officiate. He was also stripped of his MBE by the King.
Dame Sarah used her first address to the General Synod as Archbishop of Canterbury to lament such failures and to push for stronger safeguarding measures to make sure they will not be repeated.
In response, the Synod has passed a revised Code of Practice for Bishops’ Mission Orders, a recent Safer Recruitment Code, and a motion to strengthen safeguarding.
The revised Code of Practice for Bishop’s Mission Orders goals specifically to be certain that the Pilavachi scandal isn’t repeated.
Under the Code recent worshipping communities “belong fully throughout the lifetime of the Church of England and must operate inside its policies and structures”. The Code also goals to foster an accountable and healthy culture of leadership.
Mike Harrison, the Bishop of Exeter, said the brand new rules would address “unhealthy patterns of power, personality cult and unaccountability”.
A separate Code aimed toward ensuring safer recruitment practices was also passed by the Synod and is ready to come back into force in June.
Robert Springett, the Church’s deputy lead safeguarding bishop, said it “gives a transparent message that safer recruitment is being taken seriously across the Church.”
He added, “Through my involvement within the Makin and Scolding suggestion working groups, I actually have learned an awesome deal from victims and survivors, and I hope this recent Code will give confidence that work continues to make the Church a safer place for all.”
The Synod also passed key safeguarding reforms, including the creation of an independent safeguarding charity.
Importantly, a recent Clergy Conduct Measure was passed in order that future tribunals will sit in public, except in cases where it’s agreed to be “within the interests of justice” to have a closed-door hearing. The measure has to undergo Parliament to achieve royal assent.
The Church’s lead bishop for safeguarding, Dr Joanne Grenfell, said, “This is a big day for the Church.
“What has been agreed is a single, unified system that brings independence and scrutiny together. This is required to rebuild trust.
“It will deliver consistency of practice at every level of the Church – from parish to palace.”
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