Our objectives
The Archbishops’ Council has nine objectives.
Evangelism
To bring more of the people of England to the faith of Christ through the Church of England
Discipleship
To strengthen the Christian faith and life of all who worship God in the Church of England
Ministry
To ensure there are sufficient ordained and lay ministers of the required gifts and qualities who are effectively deployed to enable the Church of England to fulfil its mission, and to support those ministers in their calling, development, ministry and retirement
Common good
To contribute to transforming our society and communities more closely to reflect the Kingdom of God through loving acts of neighbourliness and service to all
Education
To promote high-quality Christian education in Church of England schools and voluntary education settings, and through our Church contribution to other schools, colleges, further and higher education institutions
Resources for the Church
To help dioceses and cathedrals to be most effective in their mission, by providing cost-effective national and specialist services and advice
Safeguarding
To ensure all children and vulnerable adults are safe in the Church
Governance
To operate the national governance arrangements of the Church of England as cost-effectively as possible in pursuit of the Church's mission
A Church for all people
To be a Church that can provide a home for all people in England
The Archbishops' Council Objectives for 2017-2020
Our work
The Council and its staff achieve these objectives in a number of ways. Our work can either be indirect or direct and largely falls under seven types of activity:
- Legislate, regulate and deregulate matters (directly or through General Synod)
- Distribute money
- Provide national services to dioceses, parishes, cathedrals, schools etc.
- Provide consultancy services
- Campaign and engage publicly
- Enable the Church to govern itself
- Engage people directly, especially through digital means
The work of the Council over the past year is described in more detail in its annual report which includes a list of grants to dioceses and other institutions awarded by the Council, and is debated by the General Synod each year.
Social Impact Investment Programme
In 2020, the Archbishops Council set up a Social Impact Investment programme, funded by the Church Commissioners, to deploy social investment capital to advance the Church’s missional objectives. The programme is designed to support projects which share the Church of England’s Christian values and benefit society.
Through this programme, the Church of England is making £16 million available for a social impact portfolio, which will seek investments targeting deep positive impact. The project is managed by, and works closely with, the Mission and Public Affairs division.
The portfolio will focus on investments that strengthen communities, particularly through access to housing and access to affordable finance, as well as investments that focus on protecting and sustaining the environment. The portfolio will be invested primarily through investment funds and similar investment vehicles, targeting investments with a geographic focus in England.
The programme has been designed to complement the Five Marks of Mission and to complement the work of the Archbishops’ Council, set up to co-ordinate and further the work and mission of the Church of England both on a local and national level.
The programme will align with the wider Ethical and Responsible Investment policies and guidelines of the Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group.
An Investment Committee has oversight of the social investment programme and the programme is managed by the Head of Social Impact Investment.