Interim Church Safety Plans
An Interim Church Safety Plan is focused on the short-term management of risk whilst safeguarding and other processes are ongoing. An Interim Church Safety Plan is not based on a formal or complete risk assessment, but a dynamic consideration of risk by the Safeguarding Officer, as relevant information is being gathered. Interim Church Safety Plans follow the same requirements as regular Church Safety Plans, as set out in Step 4.
Interim Church Safety Plans need to be agreed and signed by the respondent. Any refusal to sign the Plan should be considered by the SCMG. In such cases, alternative ways to manage risk need to be identified.
Voluntarily withdrawing from ministry
In certain circumstances (for instance, where it is unclear if the requirements for suspension have been met), members of clergy may be asked to voluntarily withdraw from ministry whilst safeguarding enquiries and risk assessments are carried out, or whilst disciplinary procedures are underway. This request will come from the bishop in writing following the advice of Safeguarding Officer and the SCMG. This request must clearly set out the parameters of what withdrawing from ministry entails for the respondent. It is unlikely that this will ever be an appropriate course of action to take where there is a safeguarding risk. There may be exceptions, for example where there is a procedural breach under Pathway 4F in extenuating circumstances, but not when there has been an allegation of direct abuse, and an appropriate determination of risk has been made.
Voluntarily withdrawing from ministry is not the same as a respondent being suspended, but needs to be accompanied by similar considerations in relation to the support that should be put in place for the respondent during that time and in relation to support for the parish or Church Body in which they exercise their ministry. For the avoidance of doubt, anyone voluntarily withdrawing from ministry must be removed from the National Register of Clergy.
Suspension
The decision to suspend is a neutral act in that there has as yet been no determination of fact, and aims to ensure that cases can be assessed in a dispassionate manner and to protect all parties involved for instance, by ensuring no further accusations are made against the respondent. There must always be reasonable and proper cause to suspend someone.
Under section 36 of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, a bishop can suspend a priest or deacon from their role in the following circumstances:
- a CDM complaint has been brought against them;
- they have been arrested, either in England or elsewhere, on suspicion of having committed a criminal offence;
- they have been convicted of an offence, other than a summary offence;
- they are included on a barred list; or
- the bishop is “satisfied, on the basis of information provided by a local authority or the police” that they present “a significant risk of harm” towards a child or vulnerable adult.
Further information about suspensions, including information about the revocation of a suspension and the right of a respondent to appeal a suspension decision, can be found in sections 36 and 37 of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 and in the accompanying Code of Practice.
Withdrawal of PTO and OPTO
A PTO is held entirely at the bishop’s discretion and may be withdrawn by the bishop at any time, without any right of appeal. The bishop can decide to withdraw a PTO whilst the relevant safeguarding processes are underway. Further guidance is available in the House of Bishops’ “Policy on Granting Permission to Officiate”.
For members of clergy who hold OPTO, the circumstances under which it can be temporarily withdrawn are outlined under the Overseas and Other Clergy (Ministry and Ordination) Measure 1967. Further guidance is available in the House of Bishops’ “Policy on Granting Permission to Officiate”.