Diocesan News09 Jun 08

Bishop Colton encourages a new approach to Canterbury appointment

Speaking at his Diocesan Synod for Cork, Cloyne and Ross on Saturday 7th June, the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt Revd Paul Colton referred to discussions about the proposed Anglican Covenant which will be discussed at the Lambeth Conference of Bishops next month, and which is designed to prevent a split in the Anglican Communion of churches. 

The Bishop warned that the proposed Anglican Covenant gives the Archbishop of Canterbury significant new powers outside of the Church of England and within other Churches. Bishop Colton said that in spite of the Covenant’s protestations to the contrary, "... agreeing to it would result in compromising the autonomy of the Church of Ireland and other parts of the Anglican Communion."

Bishop Colton said that while what was being proposed may be necessary to preserve the unity of Anglicanism, the proposal to enhance the powers of  the Archbishop of Canterbury  represented a partial move "...towards universal primacy at the expense of local conciliarity."

He argued, therefore, that if this is to happen there would have to be a new approach to the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

He said: "If the Covenant proposals and the framework for resolution of conflict are to be adopted internationally, a new approach to the appointment of future Archbishops of Canterbury will be needed as well as international involvement in those appointments. At a minimum this international involvement should involve a new process of formal and transparent consultation throughout Anglicanism.  

"I realise that this will compromise the autonomy of the Church of England and raise issues of leadership, authority as well as constitutional concerns for establishment in the English context, which would in turn have to be addressed; but, equally, not to address this matter will raise ecclesial constitutional concerns throughout much of the rest of Anglicanism."