Does government do God?

“Without faith, places of worship and people of faith, this country would be poorer, blander, and less dynamic. Faith is a force for good, and the Government should do more to both understand and release the potential of this fantastic resource.” Those are the words of Colin Bloom, the government’s faith engagement advisor, in the conclusion of his report ‘Does government do God?’. Four years in the making, the 165-page report aims to explore the relationship between religious communities and the government. What is the relationship like between Britain’s churches, and it’s government? Do civil servants and ministers understand those of faith, and do they even want to work together where they can? This week we’re digging into the Bloom report and thinking about the future of the relationship between the church and state. Guests include:

• Colin Bloom, government faith engagement advisor and author of the report
• Tim Farron, evangelical Christian MP and former leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Daniel Singleton, national executive director of FaithAction
• Danny Webster, director of advocacy for the Evangelical Alliance