Title: Archbishops’ Council Member – Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB)
General Objective: The statutory object of the Archbishops’ Council, to which each of its 19 members contributes, is to co-ordinate, promote, aid and further the work and mission of the Church of England.
Current Vacancies
We are currently seeking an exceptional individual to join the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. We are looking for an experienced trustee with a track record of strategic insight who understands how to contribute to the governance of the charity and particularly one with a large national but distributed nature. This person may, depending on skills, take a role on the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board charged with working with dioceses and partners to develop proposals for investment to support the Church’s vision and strategy.
The appointee will automatically become a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and their relevant diocesan and deanery Synods. They will also have the opportunity to serve on various committees and lead individual areas of work.
The Council comprises the two Archbishops, the Prolocutors of the House of Clergy, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the House of Laity, two members elected from each of the House of Bishops, House of Clergy and House of Laity, the First Church Estates Commissioner and up to six members appointed by the Archbishops with the approval of the General Synod. The current membership is available at Archbishops’ Council | The Church of England.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Archbishops’ Council has seven objectives.
- A Younger Church: To double the number of children and young active disciples in the Church of England by 2030.
- A More Diverse Church: To fully represent the communities we serve in age and diversity.
- Revitalise Parishes: A parish system revitalised for mission so churches can reach and serve everyone in their community.
- New Christian Communities: Creating 10,000 new Christian communities across the four areas of home, work / education, social and digital.
- Missionary Disciples: All Anglicans envisioned, resourced, and released to live out the five marks of mission in the whole of life, bringing transformation to the Church and world. All local churches, supported by their dioceses, becoming communities and hubs for initial and ongoing formation.
- Sustainability: A Church that cherishes God’s creation and leads by example in promoting sustainability.
- Safety and Dignity: A Church that affirms the dignity of all people by being a safe place for all, especially children and vulnerable adults.
The Council and its staff achieve these objectives in a number of ways. Our work can either be indirect or direct and largely falls under seven types of activity:
- Legislate, regulate and deregulate matters (directly or through General Synod).
- Distribute money.
- Provide national services to dioceses, parishes, cathedrals, schools etc.
- Provide consultancy services.
- Campaign and engage publicly.
- Enable the Church to govern itself.
- Engage people directly, especially through digital means.
The work of the Council over the past year is described in more detail in its most recent annual report, and is debated by the General Synod each year. The most recent report of the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board is available here (pdf).
As charity trustees all members of the Council are expected to ensure that the Council:
- Meets its statutory obligations as a registered charity with the Charity Commission, and meets its duties to General Synod.
- Establishes its strategic direction and achieves its goals.
- Defines the boundaries of senior management authority.
- Delegates to senior management the implementation of planned budgets.
- Monitors performance on a regular basis and holds senior management accountable for the outcomes.
- Has effective governance, financial and internal controls, and risk management.
Specifically members are also expected to:
- Acquaint themselves with the National Institutions Measure 1998 (as amended), the Council’s objectives and the responsibilities of its members (who are charity trustees).
- Regularly attend, and contribute to, Council meetings (usually six a year, two of which are residential) and support others to contribute.
- Be ready to speak for the Council in the General Synod and elsewhere and generally promote its policies.
- Join in regular reviews of the Council’s activity.
- Be willing to accept a lead responsibility in relation to specific areas of work of the Council, including through membership of subordinate bodies.
Draft legislation currently before the General Synod would reform the governance of the National Church Institutions. This includes replacing the Archbishops’ Council with Church of England National Services. More information is available here National Church Governance Measure Supporting Policy.