Gordon Brown is preparing to give up the prime minister’s historic right to choose the Archbishop of Canterbury – and other Church of England bishops.
The move to grant “operational independence” to the Church will represent one of the biggest changes to its relationship with the state for centuries. It is just one of a swathe of “royal prerogative” powers, held by the prime minister, which Mr Brown is planning to do away with once he takes over at Number 10 later this month.
In a move he has already announced, he will also give up his prerogative power to declare war without the consent of parliament. Military action, such as the invasion of Iraq, will in future have to be approved in advance by MPs.
This is simply fantastic news!
Great news indeed! Quite a wonderful shock!
though one suspects it will come with a flip side- the removal of bishops in the house of Lord’s and any preferential treatment of the C of E- making it even more vague in its identity and purpose.
Still better that than secularists with authority to choose bishops I guess- (if they ever really did- just a rubbber stamp job)
This is indeed great news. But who will decide from now on? Given that the Archbishop of Canterbury now has a world wide function, the world wide Communion as represented by the Primates should be the body to decide who chairs their gatherings.
I would imagine this is probably the first step toward disestablishment, and though a positive step I do truly wonder if it is not now too little too late.
Well, isn’t that statement pregnant with impications for the future of a national church. Is this the first tentative step on the road to dis-establishment? I wonder who will crown the next monarch, and by what authority? Or perhaps like Napolean the new monarch will place the crown upon his own head to avoid “significant ties.”
carl
I agree with Carl (to whom I apologise).
This sure does raise a lot of questions, not the least of;
IF, the CoE chooses (however its done), the next archbishop, what does that do to the idea of the world-wide, Anglican Communion?
At http://reader.classicalanglican.net/?p=1052 (The Confessing Reader), the blogger suggests a much larger choice by the various Primates, or some other group. And, perhaps not necessarily the ABC?
Like I said, “lots of questions”.
Blessings,
Gloria
[#7] John,
Since I have been forgiven a debt of 10,000 talents, then what sort of wicked servant would I be to withhold forgiveness for a debt of two copper coins? I accept your apology, and very much appreciate it. 🙂
carl
Carl,
Thanks. I’m grateful.
So how will the English get their bishops?
The danger, however, is that the appointment of bishops in England will fall to a self-perpetuating oligarchy. As it is, most diocesan bishops get chosen from the ranks of suffragans, who are overwhelmingly and disproportionately liberal catholics from the pro-gay, pro-WO clerical organization ‘Affirming Catholicism’ appointed by diocesans. There are no conservative evangelical bishops in England, even though there are thousands of conservative evangelical Anglcians and most of the largest churches in the C of E are CE. Why not? Because they are systematically discriminated against in the English system. Same with cathedral deans and canonries.
I think you have all missed the point.
In reality, nothing will change, for at the moment, the Church in the form of the Crown Appointments Commission chooses its Bishops
They then send a shortlist of two to the PM in preference order who in all but one historical case (Carey over Habgood) invariably chooses the first choice of the Church. The Queen then rubberstamps that decision
The change will simply mean that the PM isn’t involved. But his involvement has been negligible in real terms in any case. The fantasy that anyone other than the CofE will choose its bishops is laughable.
The reason why conservative evangelicals rarel;y make bishoprics (though Nazir-Ali is clearly of that ilk) is that they have a responsibility to serve all the churches in their parish – which includes liberal and anglo-catholic parishes as well. Conservative evangelicals tend to regard liberals as not Christian, and have major problems with catholic ecclesiology hence they would find the expectations of the Bishop role in England difficult to fulfil
I have finally read something from MM with which I agree.
It really is laughable, to consider any others than the CofE to chose their own leaders. If the Crown maintains its historical perogative of approving CofE choices, the only difference is the good one; i.e. the removal of a secular political involvement in the procedure.
# 13; N@zir-Ali was already a bishop when he came to England. The simple fact of the matter is that conservative evangelicals are deliberately excluded from consideration by the Establishment, although they often lead the largest churches and are often the best preachers. There is a disproportionate number of ‘Affirming Catholicism’ bishops because those in diocesan power pull strings to appoint them as suffragans. It’s just English Establishment politics.