11,000 take part in process to select Archbishop of Canterbury

The consultation was carried out online, by post and in person between February and March this year. The Church of England said that the consultation was “a unique opportunity to influence the future of leadership within the Church, helping to discern the gifts, skills and qualities required in the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury to meet the needs of the Church today and in the years to come”.

In the consultation, the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments and the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary met with more than 350 individuals, including representatives of other Christian traditions and non-Christian traditions, parliamentarians, leaders from public life and those who minister, work and worship across the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

More than 1200 children and young people participated in consultations conducted by the National Society for Education and the Appointments Secretaries. An online consultation form received more than 9600 responses, and there were more than 160 pieces of written correspondence such as emails and letters.

The themes that emerged through this consultation will sit alongside a “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 of the needs of the mission of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion.

Māori Anglican Canon Isaac Beach from the East Coast has been named to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission.

The Chair of the Crown Nominations Commission – who will ultimately make the appointment – is Lord Jonathan Evans, a former director of the British Secret Service.

The 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned in November after an independent review found that he did not follow up rigorously enough on reports about John Smyth, a serial abuser of children and young men. The review concluded that Archbishop Welby, as the leader of the Church, had not been sufficiently curious about the allegations when he was made aware of them in 2013, and that it was unlikely he had not known before then.

FULL STORY

11,000 people take part in consultations for the next Archbishop of Canterbury | The Church of England (Church of England)

Welby tells BBC abuse in Church was ‘overwhelming’ (BBC)

Māori Anglican reverend Isaac Beach selected to help choose new Archbishop of Canterbury – NZ Herald (NZ Herald)