Thinking Anglicans

Membership of Canterbury CNC announced

on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 at 10.44 am by Peter Owen
categorised as Church of England, News

The 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

• Chair: Lord (Jonathan) Evans of Weardale (appointed by the Prime Minister)
• Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell
• Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher (elected by the House of Bishops)
• Anglican Communion representatives (nominated by the 5 regions of the Communion):
  • Americas: Mr Joaquín Philpotts
  • Oceania: The Reverend Canon Isaac Beach
  • Africa: The Reverend Professor Grace Nkansa Asante
  • Asia: The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum
  • Europe: The Right Reverend Mary Stallard
• Central Members (drawn from the CNC Central Members elected by General Synod, or a member of the General Synod nominated to represent them):
  • Ms Christina Baron
  • Miss Debbie Buggs
  • The Reverend Canon Paul Cartwright
  • The Reverend Lis Goddard
  • The Reverend Canon Claire Lording
  • Mr Clive Scowen
• Canterbury Diocesan representatives: To be announced on conclusion of the Canterbury Vacancy in See process.

Non-voting members

• Secretary to the Commission: Stephen Knott (Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments)
• Jonathan Hellewell (Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary)
• The Right Reverend Anthony Poggo (Secretary General of the Anglican Communion)

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.”