Mr. Welby has become the first leader of the Church and the Anglican Communion to be removed from his position. He expressed his departure ‘with pain,’ announcing a review of his obligations before confirming his exit date. A Crown Nominating Committee will be formed to select his successor, with three bishops—Martyn Snow, Graham Usher, and Guli Francis-Dehqani—emerging as potential candidates. The incoming archbishop will face ongoing divisions regarding same-sex relationships within the church.
In a historic event, Mr. Welby has become the first leader of the Church and the Anglican Communion, which encompasses 85 million Christians globally, to be removed from his position in such a manner, as per insights from religious scholars.
Expressing his departure ‘with pain’, Mr. Welby announced that the exact date of his exit would be determined after a thorough review of his remaining obligations.
At the age of 68, he has served in this capacity since 2013 and was anticipated to retire around the age of 70.
How is the List of Candidates Reduced?
The process will begin with a consultation period that assesses the needs of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, leading to the formation of a Crown Nominating Committee.
This committee will be composed of 17 voting members, including the Archbishop of York, the second highest-ranking bishop, another bishop elected by the House of Bishops, and representatives from the Anglican Communion, the Diocese of Canterbury, and the General Synod of the Church.
An Anglican chosen by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ideally someone active in public life, will chair the committee.
As David Thompson, emeritus professor of modern church history at the University of Cambridge, mentioned in an interview with Reuters, the committee’s formation may take several months, and the entire selection process could extend up to six months.
How are the Last Two Candidates Chosen?
The commission will select two candidates, allowing Starmer to choose one or, in a rare case, request a third candidate from the commission.
‘The prime minister holds the pivotal role,’ noted Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Starmer will then present his recommendation to King Charles, who serves as the supreme governor of the Church of England.
Who are the Possible Successors?
Three bishops have emerged as front-runners to replace Welby as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury: Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester; Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich; and Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford.
Bishop Snow abstained from voting on the Church assembly’s decision regarding the blessing of same-sex couples, while Bishop Usher is a proponent of gay rights and has called for increased taxes on businesses that utilize fossil fuels.
Francis-Dehqani, ordained in 2017 just three years following the appointment of the first female bishop, hails from Iran and has shared the tragic story of her brother’s murder during the Iranian revolution.
If chosen, she would be the first woman to hold the position of archbishop.
Both Francis-Dehqani and Usher were among the 44 bishops who signed a letter last year expressing regret over the delay in authorizing autonomous services to bless same-sex couples.
What Awaits Them?
The incoming archbishop is likely to encounter the same ongoing divisions concerning same-sex relationships that Mr. Welby has endeavored to manage throughout his 11-year leadership.
This contentious issue has created discord not only within the Anglican Communion, which includes African churches where homosexuality is often shunned, but also within the Church of England itself.
‘The primary challenge for the Archbishop of Canterbury is the dual role of being the primate of England and the head of the Anglican Communion,’ stated Mr. Thompson. ‘This duality is a remnant of the empire, which shaped the Anglican Communion’s development.’
‘As we progressed towards the end of the 20th century and into the 21st, this role conflict has become increasingly pronounced and remains unresolved during Archbishop Welby’s tenure.
In his resignation, Mr. Welby underscored that his decision reflects the Church of England’s recognition of the necessity for change.
‘For nearly twelve years, I have endeavored to implement improvements,’ he stated. ‘It is now up to others to evaluate the outcomes.’