THE next Archbishop of Canterbury ought to be someone “capable of speak truthfully . . . about failures and injustices within the Church,” the Statement of Needs published by the diocese of Canterbury on Friday states.
“They may have the humility to be appropriately accountable to dioceses, episcopal colleagues and national bodies.”
The document was prepared by the vacancy-in-see committee, which was elected on Tuesday of last week, on the third attempt (News, 30 May). It acknowledges that the Archbishop’s responsibilities within the diocese “will form but a small a part of the Archbishop’s total ministry”, but states that there stays “an actual and tangible sense of connection and affection for the Archbishop of Canterbury within the parishes and communities of the diocese”.
Day-to-day responsibility for episcopal ministry within the diocese is delegated to the Bishop of Dover, currently the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin.
Among the necessities set out within the Statement of Needs is “an individual of the utmost integrity who’s capable of speak truthfully, out of affection for the Lord and the Church, about failures and injustices within the Church”. He or she should possess “theological depth and a prayer-filled and dynamic personal faith”, and be “recognised as a servant leader, who shows compassion towards the disadvantaged and marginalised and has a heart to see everyone included within the Church”.
The diocese seeks someone who “will ordain and consecrate men and women, will unequivocally affirm and support the ministry of each, and will themselves be male or female”.
Regarding the Living in Love and Faith process, the diocese seeks a candidate who “will embrace those that pray for change to enable same-sex partners to marry within the Church of England. They will even embrace those that hold the present Church of England teaching on marriage.”
Founded in 597 by St Augustine, Canterbury is the oldest diocese in England. The Statement of Needs says that attendance has “lagged behind the remaining of the Church of England in our recovery following the pandemic”. But it reports that, in 2024, attendance amongst children and young people rose by 13.6 per cent. Its worshipping community stood at 16,400 in 2023, out of a population of 825,000 — down 27 per cent since 2014. All-age average weekly attendance stood at 11,500.
The diocese’s three “daring outcomes” for 2030 include doubling “the number of kids and young disciples”, establishing 200 recent Christian communities, and “every parish, benefice and deanery showing signs of revitalisation”. Its annual report refers to an ambition for “less paid, well-trained leaders, lay and ordained”.
In 2023, the diocese established a charity, the Social Justice Network, an entirely owned subsidiary of the diocese. The annual report says that it “leads the way in which nationally in responding to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of contemporary slavery, with many projects in Kent and across the Channel in Calais”.
Both Archbishop Welby and Bishop Hudson-Wilkin have been outspoken advocates of the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers. The Statement of Needs seeks someone “capable of speak prophetically, addressing the social and political issues which impact essentially the most vulnerable in our society”.
In 2022, the General Synod voted to scale back the variety of members elected by the diocese of Canterbury to the CNC for selecting the subsequent Archbishop of Canterbury — from six to 3 — and to extend representation from the Anglican Communion from one member to 5 (News, 15 July 2022). This followed a proposal that got here from the diocese of Canterbury itself. Archbishop Welby estimated that only about five per cent of his time was spent on diocesan work, and 25 per cent was dedicated to the Communion.
The 17 members of the Canterbury CNC met for the primary time in London last week. They will meet at the very least two more times over the approaching months. It is hoped that the brand new Archbishop will likely be announced within the autumn.
