Bishop Joe Aldred is well known for his vibrant ministry, delivered with the joy and enthusiasm of a gospel singer. That's no surprise really. He used to be one.
Jamaican-born Bishop Joe was a noted singer at his church before he underwent training for ministry. In the 1970s he was co-lead singer with a group called The Spiritual Rhythms.
He studied at Sheffield University, gaining a masters degree in theology and ministry. Since then he has had around 25 years of pastoral experience around the country, including Ashford, Oxford and Sheffield. In 1989 he was ordained bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy, the third largest black Pentecostal church in Britain.
Now he is chair of the Council of Black Led Churches and secretary of the Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs (MECA) for Churches Together in England.
Bishop Joe, who is married with three daughters, is not afraid to make his views - and the views of the community he represents - known, and he has been vocal on a number of key issues.
In particular he has an interest in health issues, having been a chairman of the Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust. Earlier this year he complained the Government was not properly consulting the black community about changes in mental health.
He said Ministers' commitment to consulting about the proposed new mental health law was "missing". He said: "The mental health system ends up working against black people and needs a good look at. It is not enough for the Government to post information on their web site. They need to go out and consult."
Bishop Joe also has strong feelings on the issue of slavery, launching as five-pronged plan aimed at healing and reconciliation. His recommendations include a £20 million compensation fund, a monument in central London and an unequivocal apology for the slave trade.
"There needs to be closure by meeting the realities head-on and not skirting around the issue," he said.
