Overwhelming Synod support for ongoing work on redress

General Synod today overwhelmingly voted to support the ongoing work on the Church’s national redress scheme acknowledging the safeguarding failures of the Church of England and especially their effect on victims and survivors. The presentation and debate, led by the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, chair of the Redress Board, included a speech from survivor Jane Chevous, speaking on behalf of the redress survivor working group.

Following the presentations and debate, which also included input from the Church’s lead safeguarding bishop Joanne Grenfell, and the national safeguarding director Alexander Kubeyinje, Synod voted to:

1. acknowledge and deeply regret the safeguarding failures of the Church of England and especially their effect on victims and survivors, noting the vital importance of their voice in the Church’s ongoing safeguarding work;
2. welcome the work undertaken to develop the Redress Scheme as a proper expression of that regret; and look forward to its further development.

Proposed details of the Church of England’s national redress scheme for survivors of Church-related abuse were published last month.