by Ruth Peacock, Religion Media Centre
The former Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, is among seven clergy facing disciplinary charges following the Makin review into the serial abuser John Smyth.
The National Safeguarding Team said in February that it would seek to bring disciplinary proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure against 10 clergy including two bishops, criticised in the review.
The Makin review investigated how the CofE responded to allegations of abuse by the barrister John Smyth, who ran Christian summer camps and abused boys and young men in his garden shed until they bled.
In a statement, the CofE said all the cases were out of time, but permission was given to take action against seven people. They are: Bishop Paul Butler, Rev Roger Combes, Rev Sue Colman, Rev Andrew Cornes, Rev Tim Hastie-Smith, Rev Nick Stott, Rev John Woolmer.
No further action under the CDM will be taken against the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, Rev Paul Perkin and Rev Hugh Palmer. Penalties range from a conditional discharge to a lifetime ban from ministry.