Church of England Week in Westminster, 14th – 18th July 2014

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament by the Lords Spiritual.

In the past week, Bishops in the House of Lords have spoken in debates on human rights in the Republic of Sudan, the Infrastructure Bill, the Serious Crime Bill, the Assisted Dying Bill and spoke during tributes to the outgoing Leader of the House.

They have also put questions to the Government on Disabled Students’ Allowance, preventing child abuse, fuel poverty and the new government of India.

In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on food banks, church and cathedral repairs, human trafficking, women bishops and pay, procurement and ICT in the Church Commissioners.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 14th – 18th July 2014”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 7th – 11th July 2014

Red BenchesWelcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament by the Lords Spiritual.

In the past week, Bishops in the House of Lords have spoken in debates on the Deregulation Bill and in response to the Government statement on child abuse cases.

They have also put questions to the Government on sexual violence and food security in South Sudan, legal aid and the political situation in Egypt.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 7th – 11th July 2014”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 30th June – 4th July 2014

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament by the Lords Spiritual and the Second Church Estates Commissioner.

In the past week, Bishops in the House of Lords have spoken in debates on the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill and the rural economy.

They have also put questions to the Government on busking, the needs of dyslexics in higher education, National Voter Registration Day 2015, violence in the Middle East, sexual violence in Syria, protection of civilians in South Sudan, and the appointment of the next Bishop of Guildford.

In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner has answered a written question on the subject of apprentices and spoken about the role of Leicester Cathedral in commemorating King Richard III. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 30th June – 4th July 2014”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 23 – 27 June 2014

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament by the Lords Spiritual and the Second Church Estates Commissioner.

In the past week, bishops in the House of Lords have spoken in debate on the accountability of educational institutions, defibrillators in public spaces, the commemoration of the First World War, the role of the voluntary and charitable sector, women in the prison system, human rights in Egypt, the abuse of vulnerable children and adults and challenges faced by vulnerable women.

They have also put questions to the Government on the under-occupancy charge, off-grid energy supply, wage levels of women in the UK, apprenticeships and Iran.

In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner spoke about the teaching of British values.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 23 – 27 June 2014”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 16 – 20 June 2014

Church of England – Week in Westminster:16th – 20th June 2014

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament by the Lords Spiritual and the Second Church Estates Commissioner.

In the past week, bishops in the House of Lords have spoken on the Government’s Serious Crime Bill and Infrastructure Bill,   House of Lords reform, immigration removals, and the Middle East. They also received answers to written questions on financial education and climate change. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question on responses to parliamentary questions.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 16 – 20 June 2014”

Bishop of Derby’s response to Modern Slavery Bill Announcement

Bishop of Derby’s response to Modern Slavery Bill Announcement

(From the website of the Diocese of Derby)

5th June 2014

The Bishop of Derby, The Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern has commented on the Modern Slavery Bill announced in the Queen’s speech at the opening of parliament. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby’s response to Modern Slavery Bill Announcement”

A State Opening tradition – the Select Vestries Bill

After the General Election of May 1997, once the Queen had delivered her Speech to the new Parliament and departed it fell to Lord Richard, as Labour’s freshly appointed Leader of the House of Lords, to move the first item of business.

He announced to the assembled Lords Spiritual and Temporal:

“My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill for better regulating Select Vestries be now read a first time. I am not sure why I am doing this, but I am.”

[HL Deb 14 May 1997 vol 580 c9]
2013 State opeing
The State Opening of Parliament

Continue reading “A State Opening tradition – the Select Vestries Bill”

Bishops vote to make membership or support of BNP or NF disciplinary offence for clergy

(press release via ChurchofEngland.org)

BNP and National Front incompatible with teaching of Church

03 June 2014

The House of Bishops of the Church of England have voted to make membership or support of the British National Party (BNP) or National Front (NF) a potential disciplinary offence for its clergy. Continue reading “Bishops vote to make membership or support of BNP or NF disciplinary offence for clergy”

Can Lords Spiritual vote in general elections?

Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

When Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, revealed in 1983 that he had voted in the recent general election (though not who for), he was unlikely to have imagined that it would give rise to newspaper headlines and questions in parliament. He had not broken the law, though the subsequent debate shone a light on an otherwise little-known feature of the House of Lords.  Continue reading “Can Lords Spiritual vote in general elections?”

Church and State: Living in an Old Country

“The relationship between Church and State is not a matter of special privileges granted by an all-powerful State to one particular faith. It is a relationship that has been at the heart of our forms of government for many centuries, and which has weathered enormous changes – even a civil war.”

Rev Dr Malcolm Brown on how the relationship between Church and State reflects a deeply embedded Anglican Christian identity. Continue reading “Church and State: Living in an Old Country”