Press coverage of the process of choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury
The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has started its three-day meeting to select the best man for the top job in the Church of England….
There is no time limit for the decision, which will be made by 16 voting members of the commission, including clergy and lay people. No date for the announcement has been set.
The new archbishop will be a man as no decision has even been made yet on whether women should be able to be ordained as bishops in the Church of the England.
Contenders for the post include Bishop of London Richard Chartres, Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Norwich Graham James, Bishop of Durham Justin Welby, and Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu – the second most senior bishop in the Church.
The body responsible for choosing Rowan Williams’s successor as archbishop of Canterbury will meet on Wednesday amid great secrecy and speculation that an Old Etonian former oil executive may become the 105th man to sit on the throne of St Augustine.
As the 16 voting members of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) gather at a secret location for a final two-day meeting, Justin Welby, the bishop of Durham, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to take over when Williams stands down at the end of the year….
Once it has made its decision this week the CNC, which is chaired by the former Tory minister Lord Luce and comprises clergy and lay people, will submit two names to Downing Street. Because of changes made by Gordon Brown when he was prime minister, these will now consist of one name actively advocated by the commission and a second which it would find acceptable.
The name will then be presented to the Queen for approval. The timeframe is unclear, but Lambeth Palace is expecting an announcement in early October.
Additionally, the Anglican Communion News Service offers this prayer and instructions for social media use:
Almighty God,
you have given your Holy Spirit to the Church
to lead us into all truth:
bless with the Spirit’s grace and presence
the members of the Crown Nominations Committee.
Keep them steadfast in faith and united in love,
that they may seek your will, manifest your glory
and prepare the way of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.
People on Twitter are being urged to pray for the Crown Nominations Committee (CNC), as the Committee meets today to consider the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
The hashtag “#prayforthecnc” will be used in messages sent out throughout the day by the Church of England’s Communications office (asking people to pray the prayer).