THE Clergy Discipline Commission has expressed disappointment at bishops’ infrequent use of conciliation in disciplinary cases, in an annual report that also warns that their “lack of attention” has resulted in a “greatly diminished” pool of tribunal members, the Provincial Panel.

The Commission’s annual report for 2024, included among the General Synod papers for next February, says that bishops infrequently used their power to refer complaints for alternative dispute resolution through conciliation, although there are “a great many people throughout the church with expertise in conciliation and it was a shame that this formal mechanism was being underutilised”.

In 2024, there were three complaints referred to conciliation — four per cent of the total. All were unsuccessful and then had to be determined by the bishop.

The report also notes that the Provincial Panel (the clergy and laity eligible to sit on a disciplinary tribunal) were “greatly diminished” in 2024, owing to “the lack of attention given by some diocesan bishops to renewing the terms of those members representing their diocese on the Panel, and delays in appointing replacement members when a panel member indicated they were no longer available to sit.”

The Commission “strongly encourages diocesan bishops to periodically check with their nominees that they are still willing and eligible to serve”.

It expressed “disappointment at the poor attendance by the representatives from the House of Bishops at meetings during 2024”. In the autumn of that year, both the Bishop in Europe, Dr Robert Innes, and the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr John Perumbalath, resigned from the Commission.

This week, Dr Innes cited his “heavy commitments to the national Church”, particularly his appointment as chair of the Faith and Order Commission. “At the same time, I am bishop of a huge European diocese and for much of 2024 and into 2025 was without a suffragan colleague. This meant that it was difficult to give the CDC the commitment I felt it needed, and in the autumn of 2024 it was with regret that I took the decision to resign from it.”

It is understood that the two vacancies have been filled by the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, and the Bishop of Fulham, the Rt Revd Jonathan Baker.

The Commission endorsed a pastoral-accompaniment scheme for parties in CDM proceedings which was started in the diocese of London, and commended it for use in other dioceses. Under this scheme, when a CDM is lodged, the Bishop of London asks her chaplain to alert the relevant area bishop and identify an appropriate accompanier from the list of those trained for this work. Another can be suggested if the respondent is not comfortable with the first offer. Once the archdeacon has been alerted, the area bishop can also offer support.

The task of the accompanier is to offer pastoral support, prayer, and a listening ear. The accompanier can also offer to attend meetings relating to the CDM complaint, look over letters or responses, and take notes for the respondent.