The Church of England took a significant step towards choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury… [in late July] when the 16-person committee responsible for the decision met in secret to draw up a shortlist.
Candidates have been interviewed for the first time as the Crown Nominations Commission tries to find someone who can succeed Rowan Williams and bring peace to the Church’s warring parties in battles over homosexuals and women bishops, while helping the Church in its fight against “militant secularism”.
Among those in the running are the Bishop of Coventry, the Right Rev Christopher Cocksworth ”” the favourite ”” the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham James, and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Also in contention are the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Rev James Jones, and the Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev Justin Welby. Bishop Welby was recently appointed to the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards to help to investigate the Libor rate-fixing scandal, a move that is thought to have increased his chances of taking the top job.
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I hope they find somebody good. It really could, even at this late stage, make a difference.
Wait, +Chartres isn’t on the short list? Grrrrrrr
David Hein — I’d love for them to appoint somebody good, but I guess my strategic question is . . . why would they do that?
Is there *any* advantage for those revisionists in charge of the process to appoint somebody “good” by which I’m guessing you mean “somebody who believes and promotes the Gospel.”
I can think of no advantage at all, but all the advantages are towards doing one’s utmost towards appointing somebody as revisionist activist as they can.
Sarah: My expectations are very low, as is my fund of knowledge of this whole matter. And, to be honest, I’m even having trouble staying interested.