News about bishops and the church in Parliament. Opinion and comment pieces by Lords Spiritual on parliamentary / political issues.
On 17th February 2015 the House of Bishops published ‘Who Is My Neighbour? – A Letter from the House of Bishops to the People and Parishes of the Church
of England for the General Election 2015′.
Continue reading “Summary: Who Is My Neighbour? House of Bishops’ Letter for the General Election”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the Modern Slavery Bill, the 2015 Budget statement, the EU & Russia, NHS public contracts, immigration detention and construction regulations.
The bishops also asked questions on rural deprivation, Nigeria’s Presidential election, the extractives industry and mental health,
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act was granted Royal Assent. Parliament was prorogued and will return after the General Election in May.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 23rd-27th March 2015”
The text of the sermon delivered by the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Revd Tim Stevens on 26th March 2015 at the service of reinterment of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral.
Search, Find, Honour….
The triple mandate given to the Looking for Richard Project four years ago has broken open not just a car park but a nation’s story.
King Richard has stepped from the pages of history into the fullest glare of the world’s attention. The search has laid to rest half a millennium of mystery surrounding his burial place and revealed that Richard belongs not just to the archaeologists, the chroniclers and the curators, but to all of us. Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester’s Sermon at the Service of Reinterment of King Richard III”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on affordable childcare, plain packaging of cigarettes and support for interpreters working in conflict zones.
The bishops also asked questions on access to justice, religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq and Syria, homelessness, forestry and food security
The Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Canon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered questions on funding mission and ministry and on Richard III and welcomed the Budget announcement of extra funding for church roof repairs.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 16th – 20th March 2015”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill successfully completed its passage through Parliament and will shortly receive Royal Assent.
Bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on credit & debt, the 70th anniversary of the Dresden bombing, and young people leaving foster care.
The bishops also asked questions on humanitarian aid in Iraq, homelessness, company pay, personal independence payments, Syrian refugees and the treatment of non-EU migrants.
Bishops took part in divisions on the Government’s Small Business and Enterprise Bill.
In the House of Commons the final question and answer session of this Parliament took place with the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, who was thanked for his service to the House.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th March 2015”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the Modern Slavery Bill, Economic empowerment of women, Two State Solution, refuges for victims of domestic abuse and the new single use carrier bag charges
The bishops also asked questions on protecting academy schools funding, preventing destabilisation of South Sudan. They also received written answers to questions on the Somerset Rivers Authority and homelessness
Bishops took part in divisions on Modern Slavery Bill.
In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry submitted a written answer on behalf of the Church Commissioners on the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 2nd – 6th March 2015”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill, the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill and a debate on improvements to mental health services.
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill received its Committee stage. No amendments were proposed by Peers, and the Bill will now proceed to its Third Reading.
The bishops also asked questions on Syrian refugees, Broadband access for rural schools, victims of violence detained at Yarl’s Wood, freedom of religion in India, Gaza, library closures and security in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Bishops took part in divisions on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill and International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th February 2015”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords led a debate on local welfare assistance for those in crisis and took part in debates on the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill, the Deregulation Bill and the Recall of MPs Bill.
They also asked questions on criminal proceedings for vulnerable adults, local welfare assistance schemes, local enterprise partnerships, voter registration, press freedom in Egypt and vacant properties.
Bishops took part in divisions on the Recall of MPs Bill and the Deregulation Bill.
In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question on chancel repair liability.
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th February 2015”
On 9th February 2015 the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, was Introduced to the House of Lords and took his seat.
From Hansard:
2.37 pm
Nicholas Roderick, Lord Bishop of Salisbury, was introduced and took the oath, supported by the Bishop of Worcester and the Bishop of Portsmouth, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the growth of small businesses, universal credit and the Pension Schemes Bill. They also asked questions on the criminalisation of the purchase of sex, credit unions, social security benefits, ebola and responded to a Government Statement on the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Bishops took part in divisions on the Government’s Deregulation Bill.
The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, was introduced as a member of the House of Lords.
In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question on the consecration of bishops in the Church of England. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 2nd – 6th February 2015”
The Church of England in Parliament 
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