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<p>The Archbishops’ Council of the National Church Institutions is absolutely committed
to developing fully independent scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church of England
to ensure the Church of England is a safe place for everyone, to be transparent and
accountable, and to hear the voices of victims and survivors. The actions of the Archbishops'
Council and reasons for the decisions taken are set out here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/statement-archbishops-council-independent-safeguarding-board"
target="_blank">Statement from Archbishops’ Council on the Independent Safeguarding
Board | The Church of England</a></p><p>The work of independently reviewing cases
will not stop, and the Archbishops’ Council has moved swiftly to put in place interim
arrangements, which will be carried out as at present by external experts. The priority
will now be to move to the next phase of setting up a fully independent Board, which
will be fully separate from the Church. The Church of England will engage with victims
and survivors and others to establish a process of working together to design a permanent
independent oversight structure as soon as possible. It is not appointing further
Board members at this stage.</p><p>The Archbishops' Council has been seeking to resolve
the dispute in good faith. But because the two board members were reluctant to engage
in those discussions, for example they had not met with the Acting Chair since March,
with great regret the Archbishops’ Council felt this was the only way forward.</p>
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