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| C of E to recognise religious communities for first time in centuries | C of E to recognise religious communities for first time in centuries |
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| The Church of England is to formally recognise religious communities, bringing them under its oversight for the first time since Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. | The Church of England is to formally recognise religious communities, bringing them under its oversight for the first time since Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. |
| A canon, or church law, is expected to receive final approval at the C of E synod, which meets in York this weekend, and will be enacted next year. | A canon, or church law, is expected to receive final approval at the C of E synod, which meets in York this weekend, and will be enacted next year. |
| The move has been prompted by the emergence of a new generation of religious communities in recent years, sometimes known as New Monasticism. Concerns about safeguarding are also a factor, as some communities have faced sexual abuse allegations or charges. | The move has been prompted by the emergence of a new generation of religious communities in recent years, sometimes known as New Monasticism. Concerns about safeguarding are also a factor, as some communities have faced sexual abuse allegations or charges. |
| Under the new canon, a community may be declared a recognised C of E religious community if it meets conditions relating to governance, financial affairs, safeguarding and the making of vows or promises. It must have a written constitution, a minimum number of members and agree to “visitations”, or inspections, at least every five years. | Under the new canon, a community may be declared a recognised C of E religious community if it meets conditions relating to governance, financial affairs, safeguarding and the making of vows or promises. It must have a written constitution, a minimum number of members and agree to “visitations”, or inspections, at least every five years. |
| Can you learn life lessons from monks and nuns? | Can you learn life lessons from monks and nuns? |
| The church will have the power to revoke recognition of a community if there is “grave cause” to do so. | The church will have the power to revoke recognition of a community if there is “grave cause” to do so. |
| There are thought to be dozens of semi-official religious communities that could be formally recognised by the C of E under the new law. | There are thought to be dozens of semi-official religious communities that could be formally recognised by the C of E under the new law. |
| Alexander McGregor, the chief legal adviser to the synod, said: “This is the first canonical provision in respect of religious communities being made since the dissolution of the monasteries. It will provide for there to be an approved list of official C of E religious communities.” | Alexander McGregor, the chief legal adviser to the synod, said: “This is the first canonical provision in respect of religious communities being made since the dissolution of the monasteries. It will provide for there to be an approved list of official C of E religious communities.” |
| In 1536, Henry VIII embarked on a programme of closures of monasteries and religious houses following his break with Rome. He set about acquiring monasteries’ land and wealth, destroying libraries and executing defiant abbots. By 1540, monasteries were closing at a rate of 50 a month, and monasticism vanished from English life for three centuries. | In 1536, Henry VIII embarked on a programme of closures of monasteries and religious houses following his break with Rome. He set about acquiring monasteries’ land and wealth, destroying libraries and executing defiant abbots. By 1540, monasteries were closing at a rate of 50 a month, and monasticism vanished from English life for three centuries. |
| In recent years, “there has been a growth in new religious communities, and it seems timely to provide more formal support and guidance and structure”, said David Walker, the bishop of Manchester and chair of a C of E committee on relations with religious communities. | In recent years, “there has been a growth in new religious communities, and it seems timely to provide more formal support and guidance and structure”, said David Walker, the bishop of Manchester and chair of a C of E committee on relations with religious communities. |
| He attributed the growth to “a desire among people for a sense of belonging – people feel quite atomised in this day and age – and for that belonging to have some weight and a sense of mutual accountability. | He attributed the growth to “a desire among people for a sense of belonging – people feel quite atomised in this day and age – and for that belonging to have some weight and a sense of mutual accountability. |
| “Monasticism has been around for a very long time but we are now seeing fresh expressions of it.” | “Monasticism has been around for a very long time but we are now seeing fresh expressions of it.” |
| New religious communities are diverse, mixed in gender and marital status, ecumenically open and often dispersed rather than physically living under one roof, he said. Most engage with society, rather than setting themselves apart. | New religious communities are diverse, mixed in gender and marital status, ecumenically open and often dispersed rather than physically living under one roof, he said. Most engage with society, rather than setting themselves apart. |
| Communities may have a specific focus, such as ministering to the needs of young people out at night in a city or town centre, he said. Some exist largely online, praying together via webcams or platforms such as Skype and perhaps meeting annually. Others invite members to live in a community house for a defined period of time, rather than make a lifelong commitment. | Communities may have a specific focus, such as ministering to the needs of young people out at night in a city or town centre, he said. Some exist largely online, praying together via webcams or platforms such as Skype and perhaps meeting annually. Others invite members to live in a community house for a defined period of time, rather than make a lifelong commitment. |
| Few of the new communities require members to take traditional life vows, but many members make promises signifying commitment and mutual accountability. “Vows are something many people take at important moments of their lives, such as marriage,” said Walker. | Few of the new communities require members to take traditional life vows, but many members make promises signifying commitment and mutual accountability. “Vows are something many people take at important moments of their lives, such as marriage,” said Walker. |
| Some communities have rules or follow “rhythms”, which may relate to daily prayers, lifestyle, study, penitence and spiritual retreat. | Some communities have rules or follow “rhythms”, which may relate to daily prayers, lifestyle, study, penitence and spiritual retreat. |
| In 2015, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, established a new religious community at Lambeth Palace, his London headquarters. More than 100 young people from different Christian traditions around the world have spent time with the St Anselm community, with the number of applicants far outnumbering the available places. | In 2015, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, established a new religious community at Lambeth Palace, his London headquarters. More than 100 young people from different Christian traditions around the world have spent time with the St Anselm community, with the number of applicants far outnumbering the available places. |
| Writing in the Church Times in September, Welby said: “We are witnessing a revival of interest in community life in its different forms: celibate and non-celibate, communal and dispersed, traditional and experimental.” Religious community offered an ancient and powerful answer to modern commitment phobia and isolation, he said. | Writing in the Church Times in September, Welby said: “We are witnessing a revival of interest in community life in its different forms: celibate and non-celibate, communal and dispersed, traditional and experimental.” Religious community offered an ancient and powerful answer to modern commitment phobia and isolation, he said. |
| But there have also been allegations and cases of sexual abuse within communities. In 1960, Peter Ball, later the bishop of Gloucester and Lewes, co-founded a monastic community, the Order of the Glorious Ascension. | |
| Peter Ball, who died last month, was sent to prison in 2015 for the sexual abuse of teenagers and young men under his care as novice monks. | Peter Ball, who died last month, was sent to prison in 2015 for the sexual abuse of teenagers and young men under his care as novice monks. |
| “In any place where power is exercised, or people are making promises, there are safeguarding risks associated with that,” said Walker. | “In any place where power is exercised, or people are making promises, there are safeguarding risks associated with that,” said Walker. |
| Last week, the C of E’s national safeguarding steering group said it would accept the recommendation of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that religious communities must meet adequate requirements for safeguarding and child protection. | Last week, the C of E’s national safeguarding steering group said it would accept the recommendation of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that religious communities must meet adequate requirements for safeguarding and child protection. |
| Walker acknowledged some religious communities might be reluctant to accept guidelines and oversight from C of E bishops. “Some people might pine for an era when they felt less watched,” he said. | Walker acknowledged some religious communities might be reluctant to accept guidelines and oversight from C of E bishops. “Some people might pine for an era when they felt less watched,” he said. |
| “But we cannot give our trust unequivocally in that way any more. There have been too many cases where people have been harmed.” | “But we cannot give our trust unequivocally in that way any more. There have been too many cases where people have been harmed.” |
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