“When a man takes an oath, he’s holding his own self in his own hands like water, and if he opens his fingers then, he needn’t hope to find himself again.”

Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons, spoken by Sir Thomas More.

New Faith Minister

It has emerged that the new Faith Minister is Lord Lemos, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at MCHLG. He succeeds Nesil Caliskan MP and is the tenth person to hold the role in ten years. He answered an Oral Question in that capacity on 24 June. [With thanks to Religion Media Centre.]

Draft Conversion Practices Bill

On Thursday, the Government published its draft Conversion Practices Bill. The proposed ban under the Bill will set the criminal threshold for conversion practices as conduct that aims to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity through abusive acts that seriously harm the victim.

The draft Bill will create the following criminal offences: 

• carrying out abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, alarm or distress to the victim; and
• encouraging or assisting an abusive conversion practice performed outside England and Wales.

It also creates new civil Conversion Practice Protection Orders and breach offences to support victims and those currently at risk of abuse. They will be similar to protection orders for forced marriage and female genital mutilation. The Bill extends to England and Wales only. There was a statement in the House by the Minister for Equalities, here.

The Bishop of Manchester, Rt Revd Dr David Walker, welcomed the draft Bill on behalf of the Church of England, noting that in 2017 the General Synod had voted by a very large majority in favour of the Government bringing forward such a ban.

Places of Worship Renewal Fund: update

On Thursday, there was a short debate in the House of Lords on the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. In reply, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS made the following points:

• “The fund will provide upfront capital grants to restore listed places of worship, with funding targeted towards the places that need it most.”
• Under the previous Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, many churches had not benefited because they could not raise the capital funds up front.
• The DCMS evaluation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme showed that 80% of those who benefited said that they would have completed the works anyway, and the DCMS internal analysis of past payments under the LPWGS showed that it disproportionately favoured places with less disadvantage.
• The devolved administrations had received Barnett consequential funding at the Spending Review, taking into account any changes to the overall DCMS settlement. DCMS had made them aware that the Barnett consequentials covered the new scheme, and it was for them to consider whether or not to set up new arrangements.
• First priority was eligible projects in or serving places that face double disadvantage, and only after these had been funded would other projects be considered.
• Second priority was areas with the greatest need, as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Once eligible projects in these areas had been funded, projects with the greatest financial need, urgency of repair or community benefit would be considered.

Further work on same-sex blessings and gay clergy marriage in the CofE

The Religion Media Centre reports that although the Church of England’s “Living in Love and Faith” programme on sexuality, relationships, marriage and gender identity may have been brought to a close, unresolved issues remain on the table. In relation to these, the Church has announced that the Bishop of Sodor and Man, Tricia Hillas, will chair the new Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group on legal questions concerning special services involving Prayers of Love and Faith. This group will explore the approval process for bespoke services under canon law, as well as the legislation that would be needed to license or ordain same-sex married clergy. The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, will chair a Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group, offering pastoral advice and guidance on individual cases.

Clergy Conduct Measure: progress

On Tuesday, the Clergy Conduct Measure was considered by a Commons Delegated Legislation Committee. You can read the brief debate here. The Clergy Conduct Rules 2026 (GS 2446) and the associated Explanatory Note (GS 2446X) are to be discussed at General Synod on the afternoon of Saturday 11 July. 

Fundraising updates for faith-based charities

Stone King LLP has recently published a helpful article on Fundraising updates for faith-based charities, by Lee Coley. It covers:

• the new(ish) UK-wide Code of Fundraising Practice;
• highlights of the Code for faith-based charities;
• common fundraising issues for faith-based charities – particularly, fundraising from congregations or faith communities, offerings, tithes and other collections, vulnerable people, and specific appeals for religious buildings;
• the Charity Commission’s guidance on fundraising, which was recently updated;
• the new charitable purpose soft opt-in for direct marketing;
• the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025; and
• the new rules on “professional fundraisers” and “lower-paid collectors”.

Dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan

The Japan Times has reported that the Supreme Court has upheld lower court rulings ordering the dissolution of the Unification Church and rejecting a special appeal filed by the organisation. In a ruling issued Monday, the court’s Third Petty Bench, presided over by Justice Eriko Watanabe, said that the dissolution order “does not violate the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and association.” All four justices supported the ruling. This is the first time that the Supreme Court has finalised a dissolution order for a religious corporation because of unlawful acts under the Civil Code.

Quick links

• Aisha Choudry, Bates Wells: Immigration update: sponsor licence compliance for faith-based organisations, suggesting that there has been an increase in UK Visa and Immigration’s scrutiny of sponsorship activity undertaken by faith-based organisations – and how to be compliant.