Adapted from Anglican Communion News Service
The Standing Committee met in advance of the start of the 15th Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) at Neligan House, in Auckland. A shorter agenda reflected the fact that the ACC would be meeting and therefore on both days the meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Visa challenges meant that neither Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak nor Philippa Amable could attend the meeting. Both are yet to arrive in New Zealand, but will be at the ACC meeting at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral.
… The Standing Committee reviewed and then welcomed a code of conduct concerning discriminatory behaviours, harassment, and sexual harassment prepared by Anglican Communion Office staff for use at all official Communion meetings.
Speaking about the code of conduct, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon said having such a policy was not a response to any particular problem but rather was a “modern reality” and an important move to ensure all attendees and staff felt safe. He added, “We recognise that this document may have to evolve in the light of experience.”
There was some discussion about the correspondence from the Diocese of Uruguay regarding issues of Metropolitical Authority. The Standing Committee decided to convene a subgroup to consider next steps in responding to the diocese.
For background on Uruguay’s correspondence, see this story by Marites N. Sison of Anglican Journal.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
