Church of England Faces Complete Restructure
Episcopal News Service. September 21, 1995 [95-1238]
(ENS) A report released September 20 calls for radical restructuring of the Church of England, including a new executive council with wide-reaching powers and a stronger role for the church's two archbishops.
"We want to see fewer committees and less paperwork, a single central staff working for the church as a whole, and much closer consultation between the national bodies and the dioceses, especially on financial matters," said the report from the Turnbull Commission, named for its chair, Bishop Michael Turnbull of Durham. The 152-page report is called "Working as One Body" and offers a completely new design and style of governance for the church.
The new executive council, led by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, would assess the needs and resources of the whole church and develop the strategy to implement the church's mission. The council would take over and reshape the General Synod's boards, councils and committees, together with most of the functions of the Church Commissioners, who are responsible for the church's financial matters.
The Turnbull Commission was established in the wake of a devastating mismanagement of funds by the Church Commissioners in 1992 that resulted in a decrease in the church's financial holdings of almost $1 billion. In the new recommendations, the commissioners would continue to act as trustees of the historic assets of the church but the real authority on expenditures would shift to the council. And the number of commissioners would drop from 95 to only 15. The council would also supervise the policy and operations of the pensions board.
The new council will also assist the House of Bishops in developing a broad vision for the church, according to the report, and carry the responsibility for implementing that vision. Under the new proposals, the church's General Synod would continue to serve as the elected decision-making and debating forum and the council would be accountable to the synod.
The commission reported that they detected a lack of confidence in the management of the church. "National responsibilities are split between too many bodies... The central structures are confusing and it is impossible for any one body to take a strategic view of policy and resources," the report observed.
Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey gave support to the "broad thrust" of the report and called for discussion of its proposals throughout the church. Bishop David Hope of London, who was recently chosen as the new archbishop of York, said the commission's work was timely, well-written and theologically informed and would help provide a structure for the church as it carries its mission into a new century. "As we approach the new millennium our task is to foster a church renewed in faith and hope, equipped and resourced for ministry and mission," he said.
Turnbull said that he hoped the new structures would be in place within two years, adding that it does not call for major staff cuts.