THE Archbishops of Canterbury and York have announced the appointment of the Revd Dr Jessica Martin, a Canon Residentiary of Ely Cathedral, as a second interim theology adviser to the House of Bishops.
The appointment was made after the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said that he would proceed as a co-chair of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process if, amongst other provisos, a second theology adviser was appointed. This second adviser should work alongside the prevailing adviser, the Revd Dr Tom Woolford, “in order that there’s the same model of working together across difference”, Bishop Snow said (News, 2 February).
Bishop Snow made the request after the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, stood down as the opposite LLF co-chair over “serious concerns” about Dr Woolford’s appointment (News, 1 February).
Dr Woolford, Vicar of All Saints’, New Longton, and a tutor at Emmanuel Theological College, has described himself as “conservative on blessings and on sexuality”; but he has distanced himself from an article, published in 2019 on the web site of the Church Society, through which he wrote that it could be “disastrous and desperately wicked if the Church were to organize blessings for things we must not bless”.
Canon Martin has questioned each “progressive” and “conservative” theological stances on sexual ethics (Features, 17 July 2020). Her most up-to-date book is Holiness and Desire: What makes us who we’re? (Canterbury Press) (Books, 7 August 2020).
The appointment of Canon Martin was announced on Monday. She can be on secondment for six months, starting in March. Besides advising the House of Bishops, she and Dr Woolford will act as secretaries to the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC).
A recruitment process is under technique to discover a everlasting sucessor to Prebendary Isabelle Hamley as Secretary for Theology and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops. Prebendary Hamley has been appointed Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge (News, 1 December 2023).
The Archbishops said in a press release: “In the last week, there was lots of public commentary in regards to the appointment of the Interim Theology Adviser to the House of Bishops. This has required care to resolve, not only for people involved or affected by this appointment, but for the broader LLF process. We are grateful to Jessica and to Tom for his or her willingness to work together as interim Joint Theology Advisers.
“We remain concerned in regards to the negative tone of debate in some parts of the Church, especially on social media. We must all do our utmost to disagree in a fashion which shows the love of Jesus Christ to one and all we encounter, especially those with whom we disagree. We are confident that Tom and Jessica will model this of their latest roles and support the bishops in our work.”
The Bishop in Europe, Dr Robert Innes, who chairs the FAOC, said: “The Faith and Order Commission is a vital resource for the national Church, representing a diversity of theological opinion and learning.
“I’m confident that the Commission can be well served by our two latest Interim Advisers. They are high quality theologians, and I’m personally looking forward very much to working with them.”
Canon Martin said: “It is an excellent pleasure to fulfil this interim role, working alongside Dr Woolford within the service of the entire Church, and modelling a mutual charity inside difference in the recommendation he and I offer together to support the bishops and FAOC.”
Dr Woolford said that he welcomed Dr Martin’s appointment, and that he understood “the vital importance of ensuring that trust within the LLF process is maintained”. He continued: “I intend and anticipate that we’ll each individually, in addition to together, strive to supply advice in a neutral manner, and I stay up for our working together in support of the bishops and FAOC.”
Last week, the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North, who chairs the board of trustees of Emmanuel Theological College, and the faculty’s Dean and chief executive, Canon Michael Leyden, published a press release on the faculty’s website defending Dr Woolford.
The statement described Dr Woolford, who’s a tutor and lecturer in sacramental and systematic theology, as having served the faculty “with distinction for 3 years”.
It continued: “Tom is well loved and revered by staff and students alike, and we’re proud that he brings his gifts as a theologian and communicator in addition to the distinctiveness of his own theological commitments to our diverse team. He has been consistently measured, respectful of the range of views inside our community, and inspiring of those with whom he disagrees, and we’re certain that he’ll operate with the identical generous posture in all he does for the national Church.”
