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The Urban Bishops Panel is a sub-committee of the House of Bishops of the Church of England. The Panel acts as a point of reference for concerns and policies affecting urban communities and congregations, by drawing on members experience as bishops in urban areas and their engagement in diocesan and regional strategies. The Panel is committed to promoting the priority of urban mission and ministry with the Church of England and Anglican Communion. Among its aims the Panel seeks to: achieve a better understanding of and influence the processes and policies shaping urban -communities and congregations; and promote dialogue with government and other decision makers on matters of concern.

The Panel’s terms of reference are:

The Urban Bishops’ Panel is a sub-committee of the House of Bishops. The Panel acts as a point of reference for items affecting urban communities and congregations which arise in the House of Bishops and General Synod, drawing on members’ experience as bishops in urban areas and their engagement in diocesan and regional strategies. The Panel is committed to promoting the priority of urban mission and ministry with the Church of England and Anglican Communion.

The Panel seeks to:

• stimulate theological reflection and dialogue on urban life and faith;
• encourage the exploration and development of theological reflection and new models of congregational life in urban communities;
• reflect on the role of the bishop in urban areas through the sharing of experience and insights;
• achieve a better understanding of and influence the processes and policies shaping urban communities and congregations;
• monitor and affect the development and implementation of structural mechanisms for supporting and resourcing ministry in urban areas;
• promote dialogue with government and other decision makers on matters of concern;
• encourage and advocate the network of diocesan Link Officers and the annual Faith in the City Conference.

The Panel meets three times during the year and presents an annual report, through its chair, to the House of Bishops.

The Panel’s membership at February 2007 is:

The Bishops of Bradford, Bradwell, Beverly, Dudley, Hulme (Chair), Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Plymouth, Ripon and Leeds, Sheffield, Southampton, Tonbridge, Willesden and Woolwich