Thinking Anglicans

George Pitcher on the next Archbishop of Canterbury

In a major article in the New Statesman, George Pitcher, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s secretary for public affairs from 2010-2011, ponders the challenges confronting the Archbishop’s successor: Between church and state.

Politicians are accustomed to the media distorting whatever they have to say for dramatic effect – every discussion is a row, every initiative a push for power. So it is with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Anglican apparatchiks have been busy playing down the suggestion that their Church is planning to appoint a “global president” to relieve the next archbishop of some of the workload. The line is that Dr Rowan Williams, in a valedictory interview in the Daily Telegraph, merely said that the job was too big for one person. The Telegraph thought otherwise.

But the story stirred some emotions, not least relief that Tony Blair had converted to Roman Catholicism and so would not be available for the job. And it drew attention to just how political is the role of archbishop of Canterbury. Not only is Williams presented as a more virulent opposition to the present government than the Labour Party, but what he has to say is presented in the media about as sympathetically as Boris Johnson’s denials that he wants to be prime minister…

John Martin writes for The Living Church about the Horse Race for Lambeth Palace and concludes with

Odds are strong that the commission will name Richard Chartres as a short-term “caretaker” to give Justin Welby time to gain more experience as a bishop before taking the reins at Lambeth Palace.

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John
John
11 years ago

One can only reiterate that, if Chartres as caretaker, followed, after a decent interval, by Welby as ‘real’, is the ‘grand plan’, it shows how miserably out of touch C of E ‘high-ups’ are with reality and with the ever-worsening crisis facing Christianity in western liberal societies. I know it sounds snobbish, but how can/could they be so ineffably stupid?

Concerned Anglican
Concerned Anglican
11 years ago

Let it not be forgotten that hidden away in the archives is a statement that RIchard Chartres of London made to, I think, the British Sunday Telegraph or it could have been the Daily Telegraph, to the effect that if he went to Canterbury he ‘would ordain women as the office required it’.

This was, of course, the last time around when Rowan Williams got the job and Chartres has never spoken in this way since.

Thought your readers would like to know this?

Concerned Anglican
Concerned Anglican
11 years ago

RE: Richard Chartres would ordain women as priests, as posted by me earlier.

Here’s the Telegraph link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1389253/Archbishop-favourite-would-ordain-women.html

Make of it what you will.

Father David
Father David
11 years ago

“Oh, no John, no John, no John, No!”
Chartres for Canterbury – Surely not “ineffably stupid” but in the words of the hymn – “Thine” by Mary Dagworth James –
“What bliss ineffable, divine”

toby forward
11 years ago

John, in answer to your question, long years of practice.

Wilf
Wilf
11 years ago

The thing we all need to remember is that neither Mr Pitcher nor Mr Martin actually know what is going on within the CNC. Speculation is great fun but exceedingly pointless.

Father David
Father David
11 years ago

Dear Concerned,
No where in your posted Telegraph link does it say that if the Bishop of London were to be offered Canterbury last time round ‘he would ordain women as the office required it’. There’s a world of difference between that statement and what the Telegraph article actually says that ‘close friends’ of the bishop say that “he will happily do so”.

Alastair Newman
11 years ago

Well if that is the case Fr David there is surely no way that he would be recommended for Canterbury.

Philip Hobday
Philip Hobday
11 years ago

At the risk of sounding impossibly naive / optimistic / pious, I really do believe that the Holy Spirit works through the process and that the CNC members will be doing their best to find the person whom God is calling to this thankless but crucial task.

Savi Hensman
Savi Hensman
11 years ago

If indeed Richard Chartres were appointed as a ‘caretaker’, how long might he serve before handing over to Justin Welby, and how would this fit in with the timing of the Lambeth Conference, since presumably one of the key tasks for the next ABC would be planning an 2018 Conference? By my reckoning Richard C would turn 71 in July 2018 – not the best timing if he were to retire then! But if he retired just a couple of years after taking office, say, to give his successor time to prepare for Lambeth, would this not involve a lot… Read more »

David Cavanagh
David Cavanagh
11 years ago

Isn’t “patrician” just “authoritarian” in a velvet glove? I smell the whiff of racism….

Father Ron Smith
11 years ago

I’m with Philip Hobday here. I have great hope for the aphorism; “Man proposes, God disposes”

I’m all for “Veni Creator Spiritus”, which is what I will be praying for the commission’s enlightenment.
May God’s sovereign sway bring the right person!

joe
joe
11 years ago

I find it interesting that I haven’t been able to find any comments in the press or otherwise that suggest that the new Archbishop ought to be a theological heavyweight, or failing that really quite gifted theologically. I suspect that we want someone prayerful, holy (if it can be defined), not managerially inept, gracious, wise, tested and so on. But we also need someone who is knowledgeable enough to discern the theological roots and implications of our common life. I think we need some real theological leadership to get us out of some of the jams we’re in, and not… Read more »

Lapinbizarre/Roger Mortimer
Lapinbizarre/Roger Mortimer
11 years ago

So the Prince’s non-woman ordaining, good buddy (Trinity) is top candidate (excuses aplenty for his WO position but no first-hand assurances he would change if appointed, and no reason, on his record, to assume that any second-hand assurances might be acted upon), closely followed by RAB Butler’s grand-nephew (Eton & Trinity), who needs just a wee bit more time gathering experience? Obviously the Church is adapting to the times; the old “Establishment” is dead, and pleasing the Palace is no longer a significant job requirement.

Concerned Anglican
Concerned Anglican
11 years ago

I doubt whether we’ll ever know if the 2002 Telegraph article was a deliberate ‘leak’ by Richard Chartres, testing the waters as it were, or whether it was a reporter’s fantasy. Make your own minds up on that one.

However, whoever comes in as the next Archbishop and I hope personally that we get a older ‘shorter term’ candidate, that person would do the entire Anglican Communion a favour by announcing quickly (before his power wanes) a five year postponement of the next Lambeth Conference.

Alastair Cutting
11 years ago

“…if [+Richard Chartres of London] went to Canterbury he ‘would ordain women as the office required it’.” (Posted by: Concerned Anglican on Monday, 24 September 2012 at 7:38pm BST)

This would presumably have to include the probability, legislation pending, of ordaining women as bishops within the province.

Jeremy Hummerstone
Jeremy Hummerstone
11 years ago

Nobody has yet said who Justin Welby is, and why he should be waited for.

Susan Cooper
Susan Cooper
11 years ago

It is the job of the current CNC to choose the best person for the job now. It is not it’s job to do succession planning. Given five years, there may be more competition and other bishops curently not long in office may have proved their worth and earned their spurs. There may even be an obvious woman candidate by then!

John
John
11 years ago

Father David,

Glad to hear you in good voice.

Stay with us.

Anthony Archer
Anthony Archer
11 years ago

Wilf is of course right, this speculation is pointless but as I pointed out in my letter to The Times in April the longer the process goes on the more acute and potentially ridiculous is this speculation. Re +Londin’s approach to women’s ordination, the CNC needed to know in 2001 whether or not he would ordain women as priests if he was translated to Canterbury as in those days there were no interviews. Always best to be able to ask the candidate face-to-face. I have no doubt that he was asked, thereby enabling the Commission to consider the question with… Read more »

Perry Butler
Perry Butler
11 years ago

re Lambeth Conference As I understand it there was a body of opinion that wanted the 1978 Lambeth Conference to be the last. Paradoxically ( in view of their absence last time), it was the African Provinces that made sure this didnt happen.
A postponement might well be a good thing..without a generational change its difficult to see it would be much different to the last.

peterpi - Peter Gross
peterpi - Peter Gross
11 years ago

My sisters and brothers, please ignore my earlier post: I just read the John Martin “Living Church” article. I don’t like it when the press uses a “horse race” style of approach for covering selection to high office, secular or religious — regardless of whether the office is president of the United States, Prime Minister of England, or Archbishop of Canterbury — or Pope, for that matter. All such offices are complex, and come with issues not easily reduced to a Twitter tweet or campaign button. At least in the case of PM or POTUS, the candidates are publicly known,… Read more »

Father David
Father David
11 years ago

I’ve never really understood why so much emphasis should be placed on the Lambeth Conference in deciding who is to sit on St. Augustine’s throne – nor indeed whether or not the successful candidate will or will not ordain women to the priesthood – which seems to have become the modern test of orthodoxy within the Church of England. Just before the last vacancy we had one Archbishop who did (Carey) and one who didn’t (Hope). Cannot the roles be reversed and we can have one who does (Sentamu)and one who doesn’t (Chartres)? Clearly the present Bishop of London is… Read more »

Savi Hensman
Savi Hensman
11 years ago

I doubt that there is anyone who is ‘by far the best candidate for Canterbury’ – each of the leading candidates has his own strengths and weaknesses.

Father David
Father David
11 years ago

Surely – last time round Rowan was by far the best candidate for Canterbury. The time before that – John Habgood was by far the best candidate to become the Primate of All England (what happened there then?). In spite of Dr. Fisher’s lobbying – mercifully Harold Macmillian regarded Michael Ramsey as by far the best candidate to go to Canterbury. When William Temple died so suddenly – George Bell was by far the best candidate to replace him – but Churchill thought otherwise. In the past sometimes we’ve missed out on the best candidate being chosen. Amid all the… Read more »

Anthony Archer
Anthony Archer
11 years ago

Good news that, if the BBC report is to be believed, an announcement is to be made next week. Not that long ago we were always told (by Caroline Boddington’s predecessor) that it took 14 weeks from the time of the last Commission meeting to be able to make the announcement. The postal service between Downing Street and the Palace is by pony and trap and CRB checks take a long time you understand. However, quite how the Commission will fill its time over the next three days is a mystery. Hopefully lots of time to wait on the Holy… Read more »

rjb
rjb
11 years ago

“Jonathan Wynne-Jones, who as religion reporter for the London Sunday Telegraph broke the story (never officially denied) that Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans, had been blocked after having been chosen as Bishop of Southwark, reportedly has said he already knows who the commission will choose.”

The phrasing of this passage is fairly ambiguous – we could be intended to assume that JW-J is just gifted at divining the intentions of the CNC. But if it is the case that he has an inside source, it is deplorable that the CNC is once again leaking.

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