Independent Reviewer report on the ministry capacity of the Bishops of Beverley and of Ebbsfleet

Forward in Faith welcomes the report issued today by the Independent Reviewer, Canon Maggie Swinson, on the ministry capacity of the Bishops of Beverley and of Ebbsfleet, following referrals from the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North, and from the Chair of the Dioceses Commission, Dame Caroline Spelman. Forward in Faith is grateful to the Independent Reviewer for the time and careful consideration which she gave to the compilation of her report. The review took place within the context of the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests, issued in 2014.

The report includes the following statements which represent a positive approach to providing the additional resources – both in terms of more bishops per se and also of more chaplaincy and administrative support for existing bishops – required by traditional catholics, represented in this context by the Bishops of Beverley, Fulham, Oswestry, and Richborough*, and by complementarian evangelicals, represented by the Bishop of Ebbsfleet:

· Specifically, regarding the ministry capacity of the Bishop of Beverley: “I am concerned that the provision [of episcopal care for northern province parishes who have passed a resolution] under the Declaration is potentially inadequate” and “Further, part-time, provision should be secured for the Northern Province in order to relieve the workload of the Bishop of Beverley”;

· Specifically, regarding the ministry capacity of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet: “The sustainability of the ministry … is, in its current form, unsustainable in the medium and long term” and “Some deputisable support should be put in place for the Bishop of Ebbsfleet”; and

· Generally, regarding the bishops operating under the Declaration and noting, among other issues, the great distances covered by those bishops in the conduct of their duties: “The workloads of the bishops should be subject to regular review”.

Forward in Faith is strongly of the view that it is vitally important for the Church of England’s future good health, including its standing within the universal church, that the full breadth of its Christian witness continues to flourish, and consequently that the additional resources required to conduct episcopal ministry under the Declaration are provided in full.

The report from the Independent Reviewer can be read here: northern_province_ebbsfleet_final.pdf

* The Bishops of Beverley, Oswestry, and Richborough provide pastoral and sacramental oversight to traditional catholic parishes as Provincial Episcopal Visitors (PEVs) and the Bishop of Fulham does likewise under the London Plan