We were all impressed by the speed with which the Roman Catholic Church appointed a successor to Pope Francis. Pope Francis died on 21st April this year, yet by 8th May Pope Leo was nominated. so within 17 days.
For us Anglicans, this obviously begs the question of the delay in appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby, the former holder of the post announced his resignation on 12th November last year and it was effective from effective 7th January 2025. As of today, 11th May, so 124 days after his resignation and a staggering 180 after the announcement, we still do not have an Archbishop!
This week the Church Times gave us an insight into the process. Apparently over 11,000 people have input to the public consultation on the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The online consultation received some 9600 responses, 160 letters or emails were received by the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments, and some 1200 children and young people participated in consultations. In addition, the Secretary for Appointments and the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary have met more than 350 people, representing interested organisations, during the consultation period.
The Church Times reports a Church House statement that: “The themes that emerge through this consultation will sit alongside the ‘Statement of Needs’ produced by the diocese of Canterbury, as well as other information provided by the National Church and Anglican Communion. This information will inform the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) of the needs of the mission of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion.”
OK, so there is a process. But this sounds very heavy, and slow. It is important both to consult and to take time to consider, and in this respect the Anglican process has merits that the Catholic one appears not to have. But at the same time, it feels like there is a lack of urgency: the role of Archbishop is vital both to the well-being of the global Anglican Communion, but also for the pastoral care of our Bishops in England, and the forward leadership of the Church. There is no indication given as to when the CNC will meet and the article ends with the rather concerning line, that “the full list of CNC members, expected in March, has yet to be published”. Oh dear!
Read the Church Times article here.