The Church of England continues to work alongside the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem to support the Christian community in Jordan, Syria, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. The Church also partners and engages with development and mission agencies working to support Christian communities overseas. Regular pilgrimage visits are made by parishes and dioceses of the Church of England, mainly to those holy sites that are not in conflict zones and which often involve meetings with local Christians<\/p>
Westminster Abbey will be holding a special service on the 4th December at which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will attend to offer encouragement to Christians throughout the region and to celebrate the contributions they make to their communities<\/p>
The Archbishop of Canterbury made an official visit to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories in 2017, the primary purpose of which was to affirm the Christian community in the Holy Land, to identify and explore challenges relating to religious freedom and to give encouragement to St. George\u2019s Cathedral in Jerusalem. The Archbishop also met with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian politicians during his visit<\/p>
During the November parliamentary recess I joined a small group of MPs on a regional visit to see for myself the challenges faced by the Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. We visited a number of projects that are funded or supported by the Anglican Church, including hospitals and schools. Speaking with the different communities gave a helpful perspective on the significant challenges to the daily lives and movements of people.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/312", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meriden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Caroline Spelman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-22T16:11:52.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "9"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Christianity: Middle East"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Right Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church Commissioners have had on maintaining the Christian community in the Middle East.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3960", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Henry Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crawley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Henry Smith"}
], "uin" : "193461"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011526", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011526/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Christ Church is a complex institution and, uniquely in the Church of England, the Dean is also the head of an Oxford college. The complaint against the Dean is an internal matter for the college, and neither the Church Commissioners nor the wider Church of England have any role in that process. The Bishop of Oxford remains in close contact with the Dean and is monitoring the situation closely.<\/p>
A statement made to the Oxford Diocesan Synod by the Bishop of Oxford can be read here: https://www.oxford.anglican.org/diocesan-synod-statement-dean-of-oxford-martyn-percy/<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/312", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meriden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Caroline Spelman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T16:32:22.15Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "9"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Christ Church College"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Right Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what support is being provided to the dean of Christ Church college Oxford in his dispute with the college and cathedral authorities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1606", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Howell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Henley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Howell"}
], "uin" : "194169"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013179", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013179/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The underlying financial health of the Church of England\u2019s parishes is a testament to the generosity of the commitment of congregations and local communities across the country. The most recent assessment of Church of England parish finances relate to 2016 when total giving to the 12,400 parishes was £3million more than the previous year. Between 2010 and 2016 total giving increased by 8.5%.<\/p> The figures also show that in 2016 Church of England parishes donated £46 million to supporting other charities working in the UK around the world, from foodbanks and local children's charities to international aid appeals.<\/p> Detailed figures for giving and charitable donations can be found in the 2016 Parish Finances Statistics here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/2016ParishFinanceStatistics.pdf<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/312", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meriden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Caroline Spelman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T17:17:27.363Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "9"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Charitable Donations"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of trends in the level of demand for charitable donations since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"}
], "uin" : "195133"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013180", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1013180/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Church Commissioners receive no direct Government support for maintaining redundant or under-utilised churches.<\/p> <\/p> The Church Commissioners and DCMS provide financial support for the Churches Conservation Trust, which cares for redundant churches of special architectural significance, and for which no suitable alternative use can be found. The Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2016, (which can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111142738<\/a>) sets out the basis of Government funding from 1st<\/sup> April 2016 to 31st<\/sup> March 2020.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/312", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meriden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Caroline Spelman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T17:19:29.613Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "9"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Churches: Repairs and Maintenance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church Commissioners receive from Her Majesty's Government to enable them to maintain (a) redundant and (b) under-utilised churches.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4417", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Deidre Brock"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh North and Leith"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Deidre Brock"}
], "uin" : "195134"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1015278", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1015278/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In 2017 the Church of England\u2019s General Synod passed a unanimous motion calling on Government to reduce the stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals to £2.00. This is an issue on which bishops, most notably the Bishop of St Albans, have spoken frequently on and campaigned for. The Church has therefore welcomed the Government\u2019s announcement of the reduction in stakes, and the decision to implement the change in April 2019, as well as the increase in Remote Gaming Duty. The Bishop of St Albans continues to spearhead the Church\u2019s activity in this area and has recently raised in the House of Lords the high quantity of gambling advertisements, increases in child gambling, the voluntary levy paid by gambling firms, and the socio-economic cost to society of problem gambling.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/312", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Meriden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Caroline Spelman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-29T16:15:50.55Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "9"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gambling"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to tackle problem gambling.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Eddie Hughes"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Walsall North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Eddie Hughes"}
], "uin" : "907931"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1016120", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Church Commissioners"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1016120/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This year the Church of England surveyed its 16,000 parish churches about their involvement in social action and local community projects. Of the 13,000 churches that responded the survey revealed that 80% were involved in providing services for the benefit of their local communities, either standalone or in partnership with others. These 33,000 projects included debt counselling, lunch clubs, language classes, food banks, children\u2019s clubs, community cafes, holiday and breakfast clubs and night shelters.<\/p> There are many good examples of work in the Rochester Diocese, 11 of the 12 Church of England churches within the Gillingham deanery (which covers the Gillingham and Rainham constituency) are involved in providing on average at least 4 different projects to support the wider local community.<\/p> The areas in which the churches in Gillingham deanery are engaging is as follows:<\/p> Christ Church Oxford is a joint foundation comprising both College and Cathedral. The post of Dean being indivisible, the different aspects of his or her duties cannot be separated. Under the statutes of Christ Church, where a complaint is referred to a Tribunal, the Senior ex-Censor may choose to suspend the Dean from his or her duties without loss of salary.<\/p>