from Religion Media Centre (Photo: Unsplash)
Kaya Burgess, writing in The Times, has drawn attention to the fact that 12 out of 42 diocesan bishops’ posts in the Church of England, lie vacant.
One is suspended after complaints, one resigned after being arrested, one is on long term sick leave, seven retired with one temporary cover while another is appointed but not installed, one died, another (Sarah Mullally) was promoted.
In the second layer of suffragan bishops, there should be 48 but there are seven vacancies.
The House of Bishops discussed this at their recent meeting, noting “the cost of long vacancies and shared experiences of identifying and encouraging candidates for episcopal ministry”.
A CofE spokesman is quoted acknowledging “an unusually high number of episcopal transitions”, and said that the church recognises the importance of reducing the length of vacancies and is strengthening succession planning.