Over the last two days, Sheikh al Tayyeb has had the opportunity to ask the same question to the leader of 80 million Anglicans. If he had been as blunt as Donald Trump and popped the question to his host at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury wouldn't be tweeting his praises from the top of the minaret.

Ball, formerly bishop of Lewes and of Gloucester, was convicted in 2015 of sexually abusing vulnerable young men and boys.

Last June, the former Archbishop, who was in the role from 1991 until 2002, stood down from his role as honorary assistant bishop in the diocese and so lost the right to lead church services.

It followed the publication of an independent report that criticised the Church's handling of Ball.

Among many other things, the plan would compel the government to "consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy."

In a statement released Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Church of England praised the action plan, specifically singling out the call to ban conversion therapy.

"We warmly welcome the government commitment to eradicate gay conversion therapy in this country," the statement reads.

The Church of England's highest legislative body is due to meet at the University of York from July 7 to 10, 2018. Papers circulated to members of General Synod ahead of its sessions in York have been published online in two batches.

One briefing paper in the first circulation sets out how an existing Church of England service for reaffirming baptismal vows may form the liturgical basis for services which help transgender Christians mark their gender transition openly.