Evangelist preacher who thinks homosexuality is a sin, ‘ close friend’ of Bristol Mayor and involved in Bristol-US trade deals

Marvin Rees has made no secret of his strong Christian faith. But does his faith adviser, who works one day a week in City Hall, have too much influence? And should he be associating with powerful yet secretive Christian groups who believe that homosexuality is a sin? Joanna Booth reports.

On Marvin Rees’ first day as mayor of Bristol, he met with some of the city’s church leaders in Hope Chapel in Hotwells. “We prayed, and we invited the spirit of God into the city,” he told the audience at the New Wine National Leadership Conference 2018 where he was on the panel. “I don’t tweet that. But we did it, you know?”

When preaching at Christ Church in Clifton, he has even worn a dog collar to mock satirical and investigative news sheet The Bristolian’s description of him as the Reverend Rees.

Rees’ connection with churches has intensified as the city’s funds have been declining. He has asked Bristol churches to “step up” and they have. When trying to help the homeless, 16 churches got involved with providing three meals a day for a period of time from March 2018, and then Bristol Church Network paid for Rees and his faith adviser, Rachel Molano, to travel to Washington and meet…