I worry that "educated" guesses by the media, especially the Telegraph, are signals to those who oppose gay bishops and gay-friendly bishops to complain loudly and weaken the chances of the appointments. I'd be pleased if Jeffrey John went to Durham and Alan Wilson to Manchester. I know Jeffrey only by reputation, but I have met Alan, and I think both men would make fine diocesan bishops. Two such appointments would be good news for the Church of England. We'll see.
The panel, which met on Friday, was told that the successor to the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, who retired earlier this year, should build on “significant engagement” with “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities” in Manchester.
The move comes amid growing tensions within the Church over its attitude to gay worshippers and clergy.
Such a public endorsement of working with gay Anglicans by a major diocese will cheer liberals but be seen by traditionalists as a further erosion of their views.
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As a result of the change Dr Jeffrey John, the openly gay Dean of St Albans, has been widely tipped for consideration as Bishop of Durham, a move which would catapult him into the third most senior post in the Church of England, and one held until recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.
....
Among those who could be considered for the role [in Manchester] is the Bishop of Buckingham, Dr Alan Wilson, one of the most prominent Church figures to speak publicly in favour of gay marriage.
A junior bishop in the Diocese of Oxford for 10 years, he would have the experience and profile to take over a diocese the size of Manchester.
A very BIG deal (I know you realize that ++John/York is the Metropolitan over both dioceses and you know how he has capaigned against Jeffrey John in the past). Much good would come of ¨two such appointments¨ but I fear you are right about the anti-inclusive dustup that this article may cause (or have caused).
ReplyDeleteAlan would be a wonderful choice, as would Jeffrey. At some point something has to give on this or the C of E will simply roll back under the covers and slumber for another generation, dreaming of the glory days but slipping from the corporate memory of the culture.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful but not optimistic. York remains an obstacle. He could take a leaf from George Gently.
Yes, there's York. This morning, in the light of day, I confess I'm less excited about the prospects for Alan and Jeffrey to be appointed. One day the church of England will have to make its way into the 21st century, unless the plan is to sleep through the 2000s.
ReplyDeleteAs David Keen points out, the Telegraph has taken half of one of the twenty-seven bullet points (which are sub-headings of the six major headings under 'personal qualities wanted in a new bishop') and made it appear to be the major point of the document. but of course, things like 'captivated by God', 'committed to the Five Marks of Mission', 'a gifted pastor to clergy and laity', and 'take the lead in managing necessary change at parish, deanery and diocesan level' just don't make sensational copy, do they?
ReplyDeleteMind you, the thing that stands out for me about this document is that only the Archangel Gabriel could get even halfway to measuring up to it.
Tim, David Keen is right - thus my worry that the article is a signal. Even as I read the piece, which is more than a bit of a mess, I had to reread to clear up my confusion about who might go where.
DeleteCheck out Archdruid Eileen on how to advertize for a minister.
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