Aggressive behaviour, including slamming fists on tables and continual interruptions, has prompted a call for the Church of England to prevent local church meetings from becoming “psychologically unsafe environments”. The C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, could back a code of conduct for members of parochial church councils (PCCs) and lay volunteers, with the possibility of individuals being removed for non-compliance. The move seeks to redress a situation in which lay volunteers “face no significant consequences for persistent departures from acceptable standards of behaviour”. The diocese of Chelmsford, which is proposing the move, says in a paper: “Repeatedly poor behaviours sidetrack meetings, waste the time and energy of all participants and detract from the church’s ability to share the gospel and nurture disciples. “In one parish, a PCC member refused to share the keys to the cupboard that stored all the resources for children’s work. Thus, whilst the dispute was ongoing, no children’s work was able to happen. “A PCC meeting should not be a psychologically damaging or physically threatening environment for any participant.” It cited as examples “aggressive behaviour in meetings (slamming fists on tables and continually interrupting when others speak) or outside meetings (emailing repeatedly, and when blocked on email, printing and delivering copies of a message)”. A separate paper to the synod describes the bullying of clergy as a “grievous stain on the life of the church” and calls for church legislation to allow the disqualification of church wardens, PCC members and other lay officers. It points out that a priest who is found guilty of bullying can be disciplined and removed from their post but there is no equivalent penalty for lay officers. Mark Ireland, the archdeacon of Blackburn, said: “Bullying behaviour … can blight the life of a parish.” He said he had been “inundated with distressing correspondence from clergy and clergy spouses who have been subjected to bullying and harassment”. He quoted a “typical priest” as saying: “It’s the drip, drip, drip – not one major incident but constant attempts to undermine, criticise and exercise control that defines my experience of a bully in the congregation … It’s sink or swim. You feel you are on your own with it.” Ireland said: “The impact of bullying and harassment can be devastating, on mental health, on physical health, on the breakdown of relationships, and the blighting of local Christian communities.” Such behaviour was not tolerated in the workplace or the charity sector, he said. “In the church we should be no less diligent in protecting our ordained staff and our lay volunteers from bullying behaviour.” The two motions will be debated at the synod when it meets in London this month. In a debate on the war in Ukraine, the synod will hear a plea for Christians to “avoid actions or words that dehumanise Russia or Russians and dehumanising caricatures”. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, called for renewed support from people in western countries for Ukraine on a visit to the country this week. He said Ukraine was fighting for the “survival of a people”, like Britain did in the second world war.