The Archbishop of The Church of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, has called for the selection of the Archbishop of Canterbury to be more international and for the post to be term-limited.
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) demanded a change in the age-long tradition that allows the British government to appoint the Archbishop of Canterbury, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The Primate of the Church, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, on Wednesday in Abuja made the call at a media briefing to herald the 2012 Divine Commonwealth Conference scheduled to begin in the city next week.
NAN reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, is due to retire by the end of the year and according to the the tradition, the British Prime Minister is expected to name his successor.
The appointment of the new Church leader is based on the recommendations of the UK-based Crown Nominations Commission, a 16-member body made up of bishops, priests and laity.
He thinks that since the ABC represents the whole church, and since most of the Anglican Communion exists in the former British Empire, that there should be more international input.
“But what we have asked for is that for the fact that most of the churches that make up the Communion were part and parcel of the British Empire before, the original British Empire has changed method, which is now the Commonwealth, the same thing, the leadership in the Church should equally change.’’
He would also like to see the post have term limits of five years.
Of course, he is not interested in international selection for its own sake. He is interested in promoting the idea that Anglican Communion is really One Big Church instead of a communion of 38 autonomous churches with a shared heritage. And, if he had his way, the ABC Okah would accept would by definition leave out anyone in favor of full-inclusion GLBT persons.
…the kind of person we will want to see; somebody who will bring unity to the Church, particularly in the areas of doctrine.
“We will like somebody who will be biblically based not somebody with wide theologies.”
Why let the Church of England choose their Archbishop? Because we gave up Popes, that’s why. The hard work is living out being in communion.