Honoured to be sitting alongside my dear friends and powerful advocates, Lord @DavidAltonHL, Professor Mariz Tadros and Professor @JavidRehman at the @UKHouseOfLords last night to highlight global evidence around the urgent issue of the grooming and coerced conversion of minority women and girls. This important research, led by @IDS_UK’s Professor Tadros and supported by @Refcemi, is a powerful resource addressing the ongoing targeting of minority women and girls through unrecognised forms of emotional and affectionate manipulation. Her new book on this issue is now available for all at: ids.ac.uk/publications/ideol…

Another alarming attack on London’s Jewish community, today with the stabbing of two innocent men in the streets of North London. We must stand together not only to pray for our religious communities, but to speak against these abhorrent acts perpetrated against people purely because of their faith or belief. Tonight, we pray for these two men who are being treated after their injuries and for their families and communities at this time of great pain, as we pray for our sisters, brothers and colleagues in the Jewish community who feel additionally vulnerable after today’s attack. We also pray that anyone who considers perpetrating such attacks recognises the sanctity of every life, and that acting in this way targets a bearer of the image and likeness of God, while also acting against that very same image within him or herself.

Grateful for the opportunity earlier in the week to be with esteemed colleagues, Lord @RussRook, @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy @DSNorthNorth and @Alkhoei_org’s Aliya Azam MBE for a @UKHouseofLords gathering reflecting on the importance of preserving and protecting religious heritage. Our history as a Church that has endured persecution means that we share a profound understanding of how essential sacred spaces are to identity and communities. Through @Refcemi, we stand with thoughtful voices which recognise that what is sacred to one community can be a gift to us all.

Proud to host @JerseyRoadComms and @Refcemi’s first joint “Faith in Media” Conference at @TheSanctuaryCDL today alongside my dear friend @GarethWRussell. “If we are going to be effective as faith communities…we need to invest in relationships. …I do not believe that media is ‘bad’, nor do I believe that it is all negative; but I do believe that we need to engage properly with one another and invest in relationships with people who are in a position to share important well researched and resourced stories with the world.”

As a pastor, I have served at the bedside of the dying and provided support to their families. I have also provided support and pastoral care to countless people battling illnesses, challenges and difficulties. In all these cases many have expressed their lack of hope and desire to be without pain, bringing their experience to an end. In every case, these have been defining moments in which the love, care and compassion of others have helped to redirect their experience to one of reconciliation, hope, and, in many cases, complete transformation. Those same people would now admit to regretting any decision taken to end their pain. I plead with members of our @UKParliament to understand the very real risk to the lives of so many who will consider assisted suicide an option that is irreversible. Let us commit to rebuilding robust systems of compassion, hope and love for those most in need of our care and support.

Honoured to meet yesterday with my dear friend @LordWajidKhan, Minister for Faith and Communities, discussing the significance and impact of faith communities across Britain, and reflecting on opportunities to further steward support and stability to our wider society.

As always, a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with dear friends and trusted colleagues and partners in the Freedom of Religion or Belief space at this year’s @IRFSummit #IRFSummit2025. Privileged to speak on a panel addressing the impact of mass migration and religious pluralism on religious communities around the world. With the extent and magnitude of people movement and migration around the world, it is important to look at identity more cumulatively, and in a way that does not force people to make artificial and irreconcilable choices around ethnicity.

A joy to land back in Washington DC for this year’s @IRFSummit and head directly to the #IRFSummit2025 opening reception with my dear friends, host, @BYU’s Professor Brett Scharffs, and co-Chairs @LantosSwettK and @SamuelBrownback. A wonderful opportunity to also meet with another dear and faithful friend in Minister @Tristan_Azbej. Looking forward to the coming two days of listening, speaking and connecting, that will hopefully provide an opportunity for even greater transatlantic and international collaboration and cooperation on and for Freedom of Religion and Belief.

Looking forward to being in Washington DC for the 2025 @IRFSummit with our @Refcemi team and friends, colleagues and #FoRB advocates from around the world, @SamuelBrownback @KLantosSwett @PMounstephen @DSNorthNorth @NadineMaenza @MervThomas @Robert_Rehak @EwelinaUO @MarkHillKC @KnoxThames and many more.