Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Parish Ministry

Thursday 28 April 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church of England is distributing 160 million between 2020 and 2022 through its lowest income communities fund and strategic development funding.
  • The Church of England appreciates the key role that the Church in Wales plays in communities and is open to exchanging ideas on strengthening parish ministry.
  • The Church of England supports eco-church initiatives and has launched a major regenerative agriculture programme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robin Millar
Religion & Faith
Context

The question focuses on the financial support provided by the Church of England to sustain its ministry in low-income communities. The background context includes specific funding amounts and timeframes.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to strengthen its parish ministry. The Church of England is distributing £160 million between 2020 and 2022 through our lowest income communities fund and our strategic development funding.

Answer from Andrew Selous

The Church of England is distributing £160 million between 2020 and 2022 through our lowest income communities fund and our strategic development funding. That funding sustains the Church's ministry in many low-income communities and that footprint, across the whole country, is incredibly precious to us and we do not want to lose it.

Answered
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Q2 Robin Millar
Religion & Faith
Context

The question discusses the Church's involvement in communities, especially during the pandemic. It specifically asks for an assurance that lay workers will benefit from the levelling-up fund.

Question

The Church plays a key part in many communities in Aberconwy, never more so than during the pandemic. The Church in Wales is encouraging its lay members to use their skills, time and resources to serve their communities. Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that lay workers will benefit from the levelling-up fund to aid that ministry of service to their communities?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I know that my hon. Friend and many of his constituents hugely appreciate the key role that the Church plays in communities across Aberconwy. My colleagues in the Church of England are always glad for opportunities to exchange ideas for and experiences of strengthening parish ministry with the Church in Wales, with which we have a very warm relationship.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about an assurance that lay workers will benefit from the levelling-up fund, but the answer did not provide this assurance or any concrete information on the matter.

How: Exchanging Ideas For Strengthening Parish Ministry With The Church In Wales

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Climate Religion & Faith
Context

The question is about encouraging more involvement in sustainability and green initiatives within the Church. The background includes reference to eco-churches and regenerative agriculture programmes.

Question

Will the hon. Gentleman give some attention to what the Church of England is doing to stimulate the ministry up and down the country by giving far more incentives to get involved in sustainability issues and green issues? At the church at which I worship, it is a breath of fresh air that gives focus to the community. Can we have more of it encouraged in the Church?

Answer from Andrew Selous

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. He will know that many churches are now eco-churches and there is a methodology to ensure that they are doing it properly. I can also tell him that the Church Commissioners have embarked on a major regenerative agriculture programme.

Answered
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