20/12/2024
The trustees of the Archbishops' Council have written to members of the Rochester Diocesan Synod following their recent motion of no confidence in the Council's safeguarding leadership.
In their letter, the trustees acknowledge the profound hurt caused to survivors of abuse by the actions of John Smyth and the Church’s failings in its response. They emphasise their commitment to addressing these issues transparently and to implementing the recommendations of the independent Makin Review, which was commissioned by the Council to examine these failings.
The trustees highlight ongoing actions, including:
- A comprehensive review of cases linked to the Makin Report, conducted under professional safeguarding guidance and with external legal oversight.
- Proposals for independent church safeguarding to be considered at the February session of General Synod, aiming to reduce conflicts of interest and rebuild trust in the Church’s safeguarding practice.
- Support for victims and survivors through initiatives such as Safe Spaces, the Interim Support Scheme, and the development of a Redress Scheme informed by survivors’ input.
The trustees also underline their commitment to trauma-informed safeguarding practices, strengthened by external scrutiny from Nazir Afzal, Chair of the National Safeguarding Panel.
The Archbishops' Council has invited further dialogue with the Rochester Diocesan Synod to better understand their concerns and looks forward to upcoming discussions at General Synod.