On 24th November 2025, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:
Clergy: Freedom of Expression
Andrew Rosindell MP (Con, Romford): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what guidance the Church of England provides to clergy on the principle of freedom of speech.
Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The National Church Institutions do not provide specific guidance to clergy on the principle of freedom of speech.
In the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy it states that:
“The reputation of the Church in the community depends to a great extent on the integrity and example of its clergy, who should recognize their role as public representatives of the Church. Their lives should enhance and embody the communication of the gospel.” [paragraph 9.1]
“Ministers must not be members or active supporters of any political party or other organization whose constitution, policies, objectives, activities or public statements are incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England, as defined by the House of Bishops, in relation to the equality of persons or groups of different races.” [Paragraph 9.6]
“The clergy must remember that they are public figures whose opinions when proffered have weight and significance. In using social media ministers should always assume that anything they post or contribute is in the public domain and will be shared. The power of the internet for doing harm as well as good must always be borne carefully in mind and weighed before saying anything which may prove be damaging to oneself as well as to others.” [paragraph 11.11 ]
“The clergy are placed in a position of power and authority over others, in pastoral relationships, with lay colleagues, and sometimes with other ministers. In all forms of ministry, in leadership, teaching, preaching and presiding at worship, the clergy should resist all temptation to exercise power inappropriately. This power needs to be used to sustain others and harness their strengths, and not to abuse, bully, manipulate or denigrate.” [paragraph 12.2]
The full Guidelines are published on the Church of England website at The Guidelines | The Church of England
Clergy: Gender
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what guidance the Church of England provides to clergy on gender ideology.
Marsha De Cordova: The Church of England does not provide specific standalone guidance to clergy on gender ideology.
On complex issues the House of Bishops may from time to time publish guidance and advice for clergy, designed to inform local response. This has included the 2020 book ‘Living in Love and Faith’, which is available to view or order on the Church of England website.
Following a vote of the General Synod in 2017 to welcome and affirm transgender people, the House of Bishops provided guidance in 2018 called ‘Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition.’
Within Church of England schools, clergy and teachers are advised to align with the “Pastoral Principles”: www.churchofengland.org/about/general-synod/structure/house-bishops/pastoral-principles(opens in a new tab)
Guidance is also available in ‘Flourishing for All: Anti-bullying Guidance for Church of England Schools’ (updated April 2025): www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/education-publications/anti-bullying-guidance-church-england-schools
Abortion Decriminalisation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact on the decriminalisation of abortion on clergy’s cure of souls.
Marsha De Cordova: In her capacity as Lead Bishop on Health and Social Care, the Bishop of London made a statement related to the proposed changes to abortion law on 20th June 2025, which can be found in full on the Church of England website at: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/abortion-law-changes-comment-bishop-london (opens in a new tab)
It included the following:
“Considering any fundamental reform to this country’s abortion laws should not be done via an amendment to another Bill. There should be public consultation and robust Parliamentary process to ensure that every legal and moral aspect of this debate is carefully considered and scrutinised. We need a path that supports women, not one that puts them and their unborn children in the way of greater harm.”
Assessing the potential impact of such a legal change is a long-term process, and Lords Spiritual continue to engage with the Crime and Policing Bill as it progresses through Parliament.
Churches: Attendance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to encourage more people to attend Sunday services in their local parish church.
Marsha De Cordova: The National Church Institutions have allocated £236million in the next funding window (2026-2028) to the Diocesan Investment Programme. This financial support goes directly to dioceses to advance their missional plans for local parishes and communities.
In the Chelmsford Diocese, which covers the Hon. Member for Romford’s constituency, in the current funding period, the Barking episcopal area was granted £14.95m to resource parish churches across the London Boroughs of Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham and Redbridge.
This funding is now being rolled out and will see appointments made to clergy and lay worker posts, children and families’ worker roles and a broad range of missional projects.
The combined effect of this investment will see missional growth stimulated, resulting not only in increased Sunday worship attendance but also greater footfall and take up of missional opportunities and social action projects throughout the week.
The Bishop of Barking or the local Archdeacon would be best placed to speak to if the Hon member has queries about the local context: https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/about-us/our-areas/barking-area-team#team
Slavery: Compensation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners:
- what legal advice the Church of England has received on the proposed use of church funds for slavery reparations through the Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice.
- what legal advice the Church of England has received on the proposed use of church funds for slavery reparations through Project Spire.
Marsha De Cordova: I refer the Hon. Member for Romford to the written answer to the question asked by the Hon. Member for the Weald of Kent published on 6 May 2025 (UIN 47114). Any legal advice received is subject to legal privilege in the usual way.
An application to the Charities Commission for a new Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice is being prepared.
Please note that the response to the historic links with African chattel enslavement (known internally by the programme/project name ‘Spire’) is not “slavery reparations”.
The Church Commissioners hope and pray that the new Fund will be an act of reparative justice and part of a meaningful process of healing and repair to bring about a better, fairer, future for all.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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