The Church of England is set to approve wide-ranging changes to the employment law rights of its clergy. The Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Draft Measure covers a number of issues including:

• (a) The introduction of Clergy Terms of Service;
• (b) The introduction of the statutory Ministerial Development Review;
• (c) The introduction of Capability Procedures;
• (d) The gradual cessation of Clergy Freehold in favour of the new Common Tenure;
• (e) The transfer of Parsonage Houses from being Benefice property to being held on trust by the Diocesan Parsonages Board;
• (f) The introduction of national guidelines for appointments etc;
• (g) The introduction of Human Resources officers or departments to facilitate the new provisions

The issue of the transfer of Parsonages was voted down at the February 2008 session of General Synod which is the Church of England's decision-making body. The draft measure (as amended) is due to be submitted for final approval at the July 2008 session of General Synod.

Written by Ian Jones, Barrister at New Walk Chambers, specialising in Employment Law and Ecclesiastical Law.