When the Diocese of Leicester signed a voluntary union recognition agreement with Unite, it marked, what I feel, is a quiet revolution in how religious institutions handle employment relations. Historically, trade unionism and organised religion shared complex, deeply intertwined roots. In the 19th century, many British union pioneers including early trade union presidents and leaders were Methodist ministers who modelled union branch meetings on Methodist fellowship gatherin

A recent employment tribunal ruling involving a former assistant curate and the Diocese of Lichfield has cast a light on the operational boundaries of church safeguarding. The tribunal dismissed all claims of whistle-blowing detriment and disability discrimination brought by the Reverend David Green, whilst delivering a direct critique of his attempts to stretch the professional remit of a Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA). At the centre of the ruling was Mr Green’s persist