Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at 10:30 am on 7 February 2008.
Stuart Bell
Second Church Estates Commissioner
10:30,
7 February 2008
The hon. Gentleman will know that the legislative drafting group has met a number of consultees representing a wide cross-section of views. The drafting group's challenging task is to identify possible arrangements for those who may be conscientiously unable to receive the ministry of women bishops. We should hesitate to be critical of those who are trying to preserve the Church of England as a broad church that gladly encompasses such differences. By way of teasing the hon. Gentleman, I shall use a phrase from the European Union: within the Church, there may be unity in diversity.
Matters concerning the established Church of England are dealt with at Question Time by a parliamentary representative of the church commissioners.
The church commissioner's role is to answer any parliamentary questions relating to the Church of England in the same way that a government minister may face questions about a particular government department.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner is appointed by the crown and is traditionally a backbench member of the party in government. The appointment lasts for the duration of the Parliament.
