Church critic says leadership has lost sight of parish priorities amid Gaza controversies A critical account argues that the Church of England is too politically focused, citing the Leeds Minster tapestry controversy, the Sarah Mullally award dispute and concerns over resources for local congregations. A critic of the Church of England has argued that its senior leaders have become too focused on political campaigns and global causes, to the detriment of their traditional pastoral duties. The comments came after another controversy involving the Church and the Israel Gaza conflict, with complaints about a tapestry displayed at Leeds Minster that named victims of the war in Gaza. The project, known as Stitch Their Names Together, was due to remain on show until Sunday but was later cancelled after concerns were raised about the inclusion of the names of Hamas militants among those commemorated.The criticism suggests that the episode is part of a wider pattern of what the writer sees as ideological capture within the Church leadership. According to this view, bishops and senior clergy increasingly treat Christianity as a vehicle for progressive political causes, including campaigns around Gaza, historic slavery and climate targets.The result, the article argues, is that parishes are encouraged to engage with international issues while local pastoral work, such as caring for ageing congregations, supporting people undergoing chemotherapy and maintaining adequate funding for churches and poor clergy, is left under pressure. One of the most contentious issues cited is the proposal to give £100 million toward slavery reparations. The money would come from a fund established by Queen Anne in 1704 to support churches and poorer clergy.Critics say this would divert resources away from congregations already struggling with declining attendance, rising costs and limited staff. They also point to the Church of England's large portfolio of historic buildings, including many listed medieval churches, as evidence that ambitious climate goals such as reaching Net Zero by 2030 are unrealistic without major practical support. The Leeds Minster tapestry controversy has added to a difficult week for the Church.Earlier, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, was forced to withdraw an award from Muslim cleric Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after it emerged that he had praised Osama Bin Laden and described Hamas attackers as freedom fighters. In June, she also visited a woman associated with the student wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an organisation linked to the October 7 2023 attack.She was photographed beside a painting of the woman's uncle, who was assassinated by Mossad for helping organise the 1972 murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. Rev Giles Fraser has also criticised the Church's involvement in debates over Gaza and Israel, saying such issues distract from its core responsibility to serve local congregations.The broader concern is that the Church's senior leaders present themselves less as spiritual shepherds and more as global political actors, travelling to conflict zones and taking positions on international disputes. With Church Commissioners controlling assets worth £11.6 billion while many parishes rely on a small number of volunteers, critics argue that the institution has lost sight of its priorities. For opponents of the current direction, these controversies are not isolated mistakes but symptoms of a deeper problem.They believe the Church has allowed political posturing and a sense of self importance to overshadow its pastoral mission. If it does not refocus on the needs of its parishes and rebuild trust with communities, including Jewish communities concerned about one sided resolutions on Israel and Gaza, the article argues, further damage to its reputation is likely