WHEN I became chairman of Forward in Faith in late 2023, it became clear to me that some Anglo-Catholic charities had, over time, evolved practices and behaviour that focused too much on personalities and personal loyalties, and too little on the needs and mission of the Church.
It struck me that one way to begin reforming this cultural problem was for our charities to make a public commitment to adopting and applying the Seven Principles of Public Life, known as the Nolan Principles — selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership — in all aspects of their operations.
In recent weeks, the Church Times has covered the serious governance problems experienced by the Additional Curates Society, and my call at the recent Forward in Faith Festival for all Anglo-Catholic charities to adopt these principles (News, 9 May, 16 May).
I now openly invite those charities to respond to that call: to state publicly that they have adopted the Nolan Principles, and that, from now onwards, they will use them in the conduct of their business and as a yardstick by which they review their governance at regular intervals.
This is exactly what Forward in Faith did in early 2024. This means, for example, that trustees are now routinely required to declare their interests in any items of business arising at each meeting, ensuring that any conflicts of interest are appropriately and transparently managed. Such a step does not change a culture overnight — culture-change is only advanced by degrees — but it does demonstrate clear intent to reform, and it is something to which trustees can refer and measure their trusteeship when they come to review the work of their charity in its annual report.
It is evident that the Anglo-Catholic Movement urgently needs to step up the governance arrangements of some of its charities. Indeed, I regard it as an integral part of the renewal of the movement that these necessary improvements be given priority and addressed systematically, beginning now. I expect that we shall be able to report significant progress being made over the next two to three years. We do not have a moment to lose.
Readers will be aware that these problems are by no means unique to the Anglo-Catholic acre of the Church of England’s vineyard. Only last summer, the General Synod considered a preliminary report, Trust and Trustworthiness in the Church of England.
One of the authors of the report, Professor Veronica Hope Bailey, informed Synod members that trustworthy behaviour at every level of systems and decision-making built high trust, and that ability, benevolence, integrity, and predictability were core to establishing and building up trust. It is clear, then, that good governance processes, reinforced by high standards of personal conduct, are one of the principal means by which trust in the Church can be rebuilt.
We have rightly heard much about safeguarding in recent years, and it must be our highest priority that safeguarding processes be markedly improved. But efforts should not stop there. At every level and dimension of ecclesial life, the rebuilding of trust in careful and intentional ways is essential. Renewal of trust is essential to ecclesial renewal, be that in the processes to populate the Crown Nominations Commission for the see of Canterbury or elsewhere. We know we can do better. Our mission demands it of us.
In this task, the Church can wisely draw water from other wells. Standards that are commonplace to the professional conduct of business are one such source. Financial donations to PCCs and to other church-based charities must surely be treated with the same care as other institutions exhibit in the exercise of their fiduciary responsibilities. Why should the Church hold herself to a lower standard? Surely, our high calling to the Christian life demands that we adhere to a higher standard?
This matter is not simply about process. It is ultimately about the honour that we do to others. We must treat one another honourably even when (especially when) we differ with one another on fundamental matters. Our conduct is a witness to our confession, and in administering the Church’s affairs, we must adopt a thorough professionalism, laying aside egos, because only God’s glory matters. The reform and renewal of trust which we long to see can and will come to pass. We must never succumb to the cynical philosophy that professes the belief that nothing can ever change. We are disciples of hope.
Our enemy in this great matter is, of course, fear. Fear shrinks whatever it grips. Fear persuades us that the possible is impossible, the admirable is undesirable. Fear turns us in that most destructive of directions, inward. It is into this very in-turned space that the Risen One steps on Resurrection Day, saying to his fear-gripped Apostles, “Peace be with you” and dispelling their fear. His words gladdened their hearts. May we undertake the task before us fearlessly, abounding in paschal hope and gladness.
The Rt Revd Paul Thomas is the Bishop of Oswestry and the chairman of Forward in Faith
