THREE clerics who carried out an audit of diocesan maternity policies have welcomed an update on progress made since its publication; but they are still receiving reports from mothers of “unfair treatment and dioceses not following the policies they have in place”.
The Clergy Babies Maternity Policy Audit was published last year by the Revd Dr Rae Caro, Priest-in-Charge of St Mark’s, Shiremoor, in Newcastle diocese; the Revd Chantal Noppen, a priest in Durham diocese; and the Revd Caroline Taylor, Vicar of Marton-in-Cleveland with Easterside, in York diocese. Their study found that only five of 40 dioceses broadly met the 2020 national guidelines on family-friendly policy, on the basis of information available on diocesan websites (News, 10 May 2024).
Last week, an update on progress in maternity provision was published among this month’s General Synod papers, signed by the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers. It reports that “in some cases provision on the ground was more generous than that suggested by the information available on websites at the time of the audit. . . Some women clergy had had a much more positive experience on maternity leave than the report might suggest was the case.” Several dioceses had since updated and improved the presentation of information on their websites.
Since publication of the audit, more than half of the dioceses had updated their maternity provision “to either fully meet the recommendations of the national guidance or to move more closely into line with the guidance”. A further quarter were “in the process of reviewing and/or updating their policy but had not completed this at the time that the conversations [with the Ministry Development Team] took place”.
The report refers to “a general desire to be generous in terms of maternity provision and to improve consistency between dioceses”. It records that the audit has inspired dioceses to draw on the examples of good practice identified. “The Ministry Development Board wish to thank the authors of the report for the work that they have undertaken.”
The update also refers to the opportunities presented by the Diocesan Finances Review. The latest paper on this review, produced by the Archbishops’ Council, refers to “opportunities where a single national HR policy for clergy might be advantageous. Such policies would be developed and revised in dialogue with dioceses ‘once for all’ rather than in 42 separate processes and thereby could reduce the administrative burden on dioceses and make it easier to provide guidance and support. Initial areas of interest include maternity, paternity and sabbatical polices but others are likely to present themselves in due course.”
On Tuesday, a statement from the three authors of the original audit thanked the advisory group, and said that they were “heartened by the progress that has been and is being made . . . As we noted in our report, we were aware that the situation on the ground was often better than was presented on websites and we celebrate this information being available to those who need it.” It clarifies, in response to one claim in the report, that they have not received any updated policy for review.
“We encourage and would like to see greater consistency and transparency to policies, and hope there will be further consideration given to how the realities and lived experience of those taking maternity leave can be heard and dioceses held accountable for shortcomings,” it says. “Through Clergy Babies we are still receiving reports from women having babies of unfair treatment and dioceses not following the policies they have in place. This is a live issue for the Church.”
