Ecclesiastical Committee

The committee scrutinised the Church of England’s Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) as the replacement for the 2003 Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM). It examined the three-track framework (grievance, misconduct, serious misconduct), the governance and policing of investigations, interactions with the police, timings for rules and implementation, and safeguarding alignment with disciplinary processes. Key commitments include drafting of rules, funding/recruitment planning, and phased implementation with certain provisions coming into force immediately and others April next year.

The committee scrutinised two Church measures: (1) Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure, which shifts chancel repair liability from land/contract to a statutory duty held by the Church Commissioners (with continued liability for certain land and a framework for arbitration). (2) Church Funds Investment Measure, aimed at tidying up and standardising small church funds via CAIF/CBF arrangements. Witnesses argued the measures reduce admin burdens for PCCs, provide clearer funding certainty by centralising liability, and modernise charity investment reporting. Questions centred on scale, public impact, and process for handling disputed liabilities, including amendments via arbitration. Key references included the Land Registration Act 2002 and the Tithe Act 1936.