An update on timing of the review

The House of Bishops COVID-19 recovery group has shared draft guidelines for when funerals, weddings, baptisms and individual private prayer can recommence in church buildings.

NEWS /  The Church of England Pensions Board, together with investors with assets totalling nearly £50bn, has filed a shareholder resolution at Rio Tinto calling on the company to review and fully disclose its relationships with industry bodies.

The Church Commissioners for England today reiterated support for the climate-related shareholder resolution, filed against the board of ExxonMobil, and calls on Exxon not to block the resolution going to a vote in 2020. 

Taskforce set up to recommend changes to ensure greater racial equality in the Church of England issues updates on its work.

NEWS / A Government-funded pilot scheme to repair and enhance England’s listed places of worship launched.

The Archbishops’ Council has voted unanimously that a proposal on interim independent oversight of the National Safeguarding Team is to be put in place before February Synod (2021) to pave the way for full independent oversight, by February Synod 2022. Both the Archbishops’ Council and the House of Bishops have already endorsed the principle of independence for the Church’s safeguarding work.

Clergy are being advised not to share the chalice and to encourage worshippers not to shake hands during the ‘Sign of the Peace’ in services, as part of updated guidance on coronavirus issued by the Church of England.

A pioneering project which could offer people living in hostels the chance to build their own home and a church scheme that helps vulnerably housed women are to pitch for funding to expand in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style competition to help ease the housing crisis.