THE Archbishop of Canterbury has defended the “theological depth” present within the House of Bishops, in response to General Synod questions on the standards used to appoint them.
The questions were triggered by reports — never confirmed by Church House — that the shortlist for the see of London in 2017 had included the previous CEO of the Post Office, the Revd Paula Vennells, who served as a non-stipendiary minister for 16 years until stepping back from parish ministry in 2021 (News, 26 April 2021).
The Revd Stephen Corbett (Blackburn) asked: “Can this Synod — and indeed the broader Church — be assured that, in future, one essential criterion for appointment to episcopal —and other senior — office will probably be that of considerable post-ordination experience at ‘incumbent level’, along with a depth of theological education and training?”
In his response, Archbishop Welby, emphasised the commitment to confidentiality of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). He described the Post Office Horizon scandal as “a terrible miscarriage of justice”.
On the query of appointments, he said that bishops were chosen “following a lengthy strategy of discernment, culminating in a reputation being submitted to the Crown for approval. . . When candidates without significant parish experience are considered, it’s because they provide other comparable and relevant experience.
“In virtually all cases of appointments being made in the intervening time, parish experience is deemed to be a very essential a part of the candidate’s ministerial journey, but, every so often, there will probably be exceptions.”
The theme was picked up by the Revd Graham Hamilton (Exeter) who asked: “In the sunshine of the report that two bishops with advanced theological qualifications were on the shortlist for consideration as the following Bishop of London, and that neither was appointed, and that each are actually now not on the bench of bishops, having moved to other positions, what review is planned of the theological depth now present within the House of Bishops?”
He was referring to rumours that the then Bishop of Kensington, Dr Graham Tomlin, and the then Bishop of Coventry, Dr Christopher Cocksworth, were shortlisted for London. Dr Tomlin is now running the Centre for Cultural Witness at Lambeth Palace, while Dr Cocksworth is Dean of Windsor.
The Archbishop said that candidates were “fastidiously scrutinised on a big selection of areas, including theological acumen, all of that are taken into consideration when a nomination is being made. Theological formation and training are themselves very essential indeed, but may are available various ways. Discernment is a strategy of combining what’s seen in an individual’s record and references, heard in interview, and sensed within the working of the Holy Spirit.” There were “no plans to commission a review on the theological depth now present within the House of Bishops”.
Geoff Crawford/Church TimesArchbishop Welby addresses the General Synod
In a follow-up query, Mr Hamilton asked if the Archbishop can be “willing to affirm the unique value of deeper theological study for the Church, lest, to misquote Churchill, those who fail to learn from theological history are doomed to repeat its errors, and consider making theological depth certainly one of the national criteria to enable us to have a balanced bench of diocesan bishops?”
The Archbishop replied: “I actually imagine in theological depth and continuing reading. . . In our interview, we explore problems with theological depth as a matter of routine. I will surely not want to affirm theological shallowness, but I feel the query of theological depth is an imprecise one in some ways. Theological depth may not include church history, but might include a profound understanding of hermeneutics, or deep understanding of the New Testament, but less depth when it got here to areas of theodicy. So, in the event you say ‘must bishops know all the pieces?’ No. If you say ‘must they give you the option to read intelligently and think intelligently and theologically and scripturally?’ Yes.”
A theological review of the CNC, led by Revd Professor Oliver O’Donovan, was published in 2018 (News, 26 January 2018). It advisable that meetings of the CNC should start “asking themselves more insistently whether, and the way well, a possible bishop has acquired a ‘theological culture’”. It noted that the Lords Spiritual were “sometimes criticised for failing to bring a theological voice to major issues”.
It asked whether, when faced with controversies, bishops would understand their roots within the Church’s history, and whether, when faced with social questions with “strong moral overtones”, they might have “the depth of understanding to make a public contribution that may carry significant weight”.
While noting that the House “doesn’t need 40 university theologians”, the review group wrote: “We must also be glad to see more higher theological degrees within the House of Bishops, but principally for what that will indicate in regards to the mental liveliness of the pool from which bishops are drawn.”
At that point, there was no serving diocesan bishop who had had a profession in higher education, which “raises questions on a lack of mental depth and seriousness”.
A Church Times evaluation of the present House of Bishops — numbering 36 — suggests that the typical variety of years in parish ministry, including curacies, stands at a bit of greater than 12 years. Thirteen of the Bishops have doctorates, in theology, church history, and religion. Among them is the brand new Bishop of Birmingham, Dr Michael Volland, a former Principal of Ridley Hall.
Another General Synod query, from Charles Houston (Hereford), asked whether the CNC for London in 2017 had been aware of the legal motion against the Post Office being brought by sub-postmasters. The Archbishop referred to earlier acknowledgement by Church House (News, 2 February) that “more questions must have been asked” in regards to the appropriateness of Ms Vennells’s involvement in committees and dealing groups, “when more had come to light in regards to the Horizon scandal. We recognise this and might want to reflect on it.”
