The decision by the Archbishops’ Council to disband the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) was a unanimous one, according to a spokesperson from Church House. This clarification comes in response to suggestions that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York had voted against the move. Archbishop Welby had previously stated that both Archbishops had wanted to wait before making a decision to remove two members of the ISB, Jasvinder Sanghera and Steve Reeves.
However, the spokesperson confirmed on Saturday that the Archbishops supported the unanimous decision to terminate the contracts of the ISB members. The spokesperson emphasized that the decisions of the Archbishops’ Council, like any board of trustees, are collective. They explained that while the Archbishops and the entire Council would have preferred more time to weigh their options, they felt there was no choice but to disband the ISB in order to establish a new fully independent safeguarding scrutiny body for the Church.
The announcement to disband the ISB was made shortly after Jasvinder Sanghera and Steve Reeves had been informed of the decision. The timing of the announcement and the lack of communication raised questions during the Synod Questions session. Phil Johnson, chairman of Ministry and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MASCAS), was first notified of the decision at 1:08 p.m., which coincided with the publication of the statement on the Church of England website. Mr. Reeves and Ms. Sanghera received an email at 12:03 p.m. informing them of the termination of their contracts. Mr. Reeves had replied requesting a delay in the announcement to avoid potential harm.
The Bishop of Stepney, Dr. Joanne Grenfell, who leads safeguarding efforts, acknowledged the need for improved communication. She stated that continuing with the ISB was not in the best interests of independence, scrutiny, or survivors. Outside the Synod meetings, survivors and advocates gathered to express compassion for abuse victims and call for independent safeguarding within the Church of England.
The Chair of the National Safeguarding Team, Alex Kubeyinje, acknowledged the lack of trust in the system and expressed a commitment to finding a way to address the difficulties faced by survivors.
The decision to disband the ISB marks a significant step in the Church of England’s efforts to improve its safeguarding practices, but concerns remain about the timing and communication surrounding the decision. The church leadership acknowledges the need for better communication and remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all its members.
