Following the resignation of Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and senior figure in the Church of England, the church is now set to select a new leader.
Tribune Online reports that Welby stepped down with deep regret over his failure to ensure a thorough investigation into historic abuse allegations.
In this article, Tribune Online explores the process for selecting the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Appointment of Archbishops and Bishops
The Appointment of Bishops Act 1533 grants the King authority over appointments as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. However, since 1976, the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has played a central role in the process.
The Role of the Crown Nominations Commission
The CNC, chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury and vice-chaired by the Archbishop of York, oversees the selection of bishops. The Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary also participates as a non-voting member.
ALSO READ: Archbishop of Canterbury: Key things to know about Justin Welby, child abuse scandal
With Welby’s resignation, a lay member of the Church of England, appointed by the Prime Minister, will now chair the meetings to select his successor. Nominations require a two-thirds majority vote from CNC members, which includes five representatives from the Anglican Communion regions: Asia, the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. At least two representatives must be women, and the majority must be of global majority heritage.
Once the CNC has decided, it submits a preferred candidate and a reserve option to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then confirms the nominee’s willingness to serve or requests an alternative if necessary.
Prime Minister and Royal Involvement
The Prime Minister forwards the selected candidate to the King, who authorises the Canterbury College of Canons to elect them through a licence (congé d’élire). A Confirmation of Election ceremony follows, and the new archbishop is formally appointed. If the new archbishop is not a member, they join the Privy Council.
Homage and Parliamentary Role
In a ceremony known as Homage, the new archbishop kneels before the King and declares allegiance. This includes issuing Letters and Writs to restore the temporalities of the vacant office.
After completing the Homage, the Archbishop of Canterbury takes their seat in the House of Lords as one of the 26 Lords Spiritual. Their ceremonial introduction is similar to that of life peers, though it excludes certain formalities, such as Letters Patent. Upon retirement, former Archbishops of Canterbury are traditionally granted life peerages.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
