The Right Reverend Dr Richard (Ric) Thorpe was today elected as the Archbishop of Melbourne in the Anglican Church of Australia. The official announcement is here.
Dr Thorpe is currently the suffragan Bishop of Islington in the Diocese of London.
0 CommentsThe Church of England’s House of Bishops met this week. The formal agenda for the meeting is available online, although the papers do not appear to be. Following the meeting the following press release was published.
House of Bishops meeting May 2025
22/05/2025
The House of Bishops met in person from 20th to 22nd May in York.
The House spent time considering what would help the flourishing of women, both lay and ordained, in the Church of England.
First, the House considered provision for ordained women in the context of the settlement on the ordination of women to all three orders. A proposal for each diocese to have at least one diocesan advisor on women’s ministry was approved, with further work to be undertaken on the associated guidelines to ensure consistency of approach in each diocese.
Secondly, the House discussed commissioning a significant piece of work to assess ongoing disparities and discrimination based on gender in the Church of England, to identify how women and men may work better together at local and national levels and offer a vision for a diverse church that works together for the flourishing of all. The overall aim of the work is to enable the inclusion and positive treatment of women in the Church, rather than mirroring negative elements of wider culture, to offer Gospel hope and transformation. Importantly, it was noted that the work does not in any way aim to undermine the current settlement on the ordination of women to all three orders, but rather to reflect on its implementation and impact.
The House was briefed on the ongoing work of the Triennium Funding Working Group, including the proposals from Archbishops’ Council on significant changes to pensions which are part of a wider range of measures on clergy wellbeing currently under development.
The House discussed the current situation in Gaza, with a number of Bishops relating their personal experience of visits to the region. The House agreed a joint statement in which they condemned the Government of Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, calling it “an atrocity that defies our common humanity”.
The House received an update from Living in Love and Faith Programme Board and the Faith and Order Commission Episcopal Reference Group. The Bishops then spent time in groups discussing different areas of the current LLF proposals (as outlined in a recent LLF update to provide feedback to the LLF Programme Board. A further iteration of these proposals will be brought before the House in the autumn. This will also take into account the wider feedback gained from an informal consultation of diocesan synod members that is currently underway.
The House heard insights from research aligned to the Vision and Strategy, celebrating experiences and discussing evidence of growth and revitalisation, and what can be learnt. Topics included the recent findings regarding the openness of Gen Z to faith, along with other local case studies and examples.
15 CommentsThe Church of England issued the following press release this morning. The terms of reference of the Group are here; they include names of the members.
Task and Finish Group meets to take forward response to Makin Report recommendations
22/05/2025
The Church of England has published the Terms of Reference for a Task and Finish Group established to oversee the Church’s response to the recommendations of the Independent Lessons Learned Review concerning John Smyth QC (the Makin Report).
The group includes survivors of Church-related abuse as full members, ensuring that lived experience, together with safeguarding expertise, is central to its work. (more…)
6 CommentsMartyn Percy Surviving Church Shades of Grey
Sharon Jagger Women and the Church A case of logocide
Mark Clavier Well-Tempered A Commonwealth of Grace
“Reimagining the Church’s Common Life”
Ian Paul Psephizo Is the Church of England growing?
35 CommentsWe last reported on the Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in October 2024 here and here. There have been more developments reported this week.
Francis Martin Church Times Concerns about Bishop Anne Dyer disciplinary case continue
Rachel Huston Premier Scottish Episcopal Church under fire for reinstating suspended bishop
Marc Horne The Times Anglican church leader urged to resign as bullying scandal drags on
[behind a paywall]
Andrew Goddard Psephizo Canterbury tales: what happens next?
Neil Patterson and Helen King Together for the Church of England Together write to the House of Bishops
“concerns about those excluded from the discernment process and ordination training due to their marital status”
Marcus Walker The Critic Anglican churchgoers need the Real Thing
“The Church of England is falling behind because we’re serving such thin gruel”
Michael Hampson ViaMedia.News We used to Have Liturgy: Now we Have Bureaucracy
54 CommentsEarlier this month we noted the reports on the visitation of Bangor Cathedral.
A supplementary statement was added to the original Church in Wales press release on Tuesday of this week (13 May); this is copied below the fold. Following the release of the statement these news reports have appeared.
Also of relevance are these reports from last week.
The outline of business for the July 2025 meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod was issued today. It is copied below the fold. (more…)
22 CommentsMartine Oborne Women and the Church A clarification on WATCH’s position regarding the Five Guiding Principles
Charlie Bell ViaMedia.News We Don’t Need More Theology: This is the Time for Action
39 CommentsThe Church of England has today announced the membership of the Canterbury CNC, apart from the three representatives from the diocese whose names are not yet available for the reasons given in my previous article. The text of the press release is copied below.
Membership of Canterbury CNC announced
13/05/2025
The Canterbury CNC is made up of a diverse group of members, including representatives from the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and members appointed by the Crown.
The Central Members and Anglican Communion representatives of the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) have been announced.
The Crown Nominations Commission for the Archbishop of Canterbury is larger than that for other diocesan bishops, with 17 voting members in a wider Commission made up of 20 members.
In 2022, General Synod approved changes to the CNC’s Standing Orders that increased the number of representatives from the Anglican Communion from one to five for the CNC of the See of Canterbury. They are nominated by the Anglican Communion, one from each of the five regions and include primates, clergy and lay people.
Voting members
Non-voting members
Following a public consultation that saw thousands of people share their views on the qualities needed in the next Archbishop of Canterbury, the Commission will convene for its first meeting later this month, followed by at least two further meetings – one in July and another in September. Through these, the Commission will agree the ‘Role Profile’ and ‘Person Specification’ for the next Archbishop of Canterbury, discern the longlist, shortlist and interview candidates.
Under the Standing Orders of the General Synod, a nomination cannot be made to The Crown unless it has received the support of at least two-thirds of the total number of the voting members of the Commission in a secret ballot.
The Chair of the Canterbury CNC, Lord (Jonathan) Evans said: “Helping to choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury is both a great responsibility and a privilege. The Crown Nominations Commission understands the weight of this important decision and we pray for God’s hand on the process.
“I thank those who have taken part in the public consultation across the country and the Anglican Communion, helping us to establish the gifts, skills and qualities required in the next Archbishop. Do please keep the CNC process in your prayers as we seek to discern who God is calling to this important ministry.”
62 CommentsThe Diocese of Canterbury has issued a statement, copied below, to say that the election of its 2022-2024 Vacancy in See Committee is to be re-run; details are in the statement. This committee is the one involved in the selection of the next Archbishop of Canterbury; in particular it elects three of its members to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission. The statement was issued quietly on 7 May and has only just come to my attention.
Regular readers will recall the criticisms of the procedures in Canterbury made by Andrew Goddard here and here.
Vacancy in See Committee
A Vacancy in See Committee is required to be in existence at all times in every Diocese. The task of the Committee, should the need arise, is to assist in the procedure of appointing a new Archbishop of Canterbury or Bishop of Dover. The Committee only meets when there is a vacancy in the See. The Committee advises the Crown Nominations Commission of the General Synod on the needs of the Diocese.
The Vacancy in See Committee will elect up to three members, of which at least two will be Laity, to serve on the Crown Nominations Commission which holds responsibility for selecting the Archbishop and six members, of which at least three must be Laity, when selecting the Bishop of Dover.
Who is on the Committee?
Ex-officio members are the Archbishop (if appropriate)the Bishop of Dover (if appropriate), the Provincial Episcopal Visitors, two Archdeacons, the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, General Synod Representatives, the Diocesan Synod Lay Chair and the Diocesan Synod Clergy Chair.
In addition to the Ex-officio members the Committee is made up of 18 elected positions, 6 clergy and 12 laity. There is equal representation from each Archdeaconry in so far as this is possible.
Elections to the Vacancy in See Committee 2022-2024
The elected members of the Committee for the 2022-2024 triennium are the elected members responsible for the selection of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, because Justin Welby announced his decision to resign as Archbishop in 2024. Following legal advice and a formal direction from the Archbishop of York, a new election was held in early 2025 to ensure the 2022-2024 VISC had elected representatives drawn from a wider pool than just our diocesan synod members.
However, it became clear Rule 75 of the Church Representation Rules was not correctly applied to the election. This Rule requires that if the number of candidates of a particular category is less than or equal to the minimum number required by that category, then those candidates should be declared automatically elected and their names should not be included on the voting paper.
The Canterbury Archbishop’s Council sought a direction from the Archbishop of York requiring fresh elections to be held, which the diocese has been advised was signed on 7 May.
The previous list of nominations will stand for the re run election and new nominations will not be sought.
This page will be updated with decisions and dates as they are known.
4 CommentsAndrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford, has published this paper: Living in Love and Faith: Discerning the Mind of the Church.
Tim Wyatt comments on the paper in his weekly newsletter: B2 or not B2, that is the question.
Sam Wells and Lucy Winkett Church Times Separate structures put the Church of England in danger
“To support same-sex relationships or women’s leadership is not to depart from orthodoxy”
Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. There is more on the Carlisle diocesan website.
Appointment of Bishop of Carlisle: 9 May 2025
The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, for election as Bishop of Carlisle
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 9 May 2025
The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, Suffragan Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle, for election as Bishop of Carlisle, in succession to The Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome, following his retirement.
Background
Rob was educated at Birmingham University and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St. Lawrence, Appleby in the Diocese of Carlisle, and was ordained Priest in 2006. He was appointed Diocesan Initial Ministerial Education Officer in 2007 and Diocesan Director of Ordinands in 2008. Alongside both of these roles he served as Bishop’s Chaplain and Assistant Priest at St. Michael’s, Dalston, with Cumdivock, Raughton Head and Wreay. In 2010, he was appointed Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Kendal and, from 2020, served as Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle and Residentiary Canon of Newcastle Cathedral.
In 2022, Rob took up his current role as Suffragan Bishop of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle and, since 2023, he has served as Acting Bishop of Carlisle.
40 CommentsWe reported in March that the Archbishop of Wales had ordered a visitation of Bangor Cathedral. This has now been completed and reports issued. There is a press release from the Church in Wales, which is copied below, with links to the reports at the end. There is also this news item by Madeleine Davies in the Church Times: Visitation identifies ‘weak financial controls’ and ‘inappropriate behaviours’ at Bangor Cathedral.
Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report
Provincial news Posted: 3 May 2025
In October 2024, in response to concerns which had been brought to his attention, the Archbishop of Wales, The Most Revd Andrew John, commissioned a visitation of Bangor Cathedral and a review by Thirtyone:eight, an external body that specialises in safeguarding advice in church settings.
The reporting process is now complete and the following summary reports have now been released publicly, and can be accessed below.
We are grateful to all who contributed to this careful and prayerful process. The reports give details of the next steps which will now be taken.
65 CommentsSusannah Clark ViaMedia.News
Lizzie Taylor Women and the Church When will Bishops let ordinary churchgoers have a say about equality for women in the Church?
140 Comments