by Ruth Gledhill, from Anglican Ink
[…] In the wake of the Smyth scandal, finding a suitable candidate to replace Welby — who fits the bill, has no safeguarding issues in their past, and actually wants the job — is proving far from straightforward. In fact, many potential candidates are shying away from the role of leading the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion. The Anglican church has a longstanding tradition of would-be archbishops claiming nolo episcopari: I do not want to be bishop. On this occasion, however, most of them actually mean it.
Insiders describe the selection process as a “bit desperate” and an “impossible ask”. The job itself is enormously challenging because the role of archbishop is really several demanding jobs rolled into one, including leading the See of Canterbury, the Church of England and being spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Read also: ‘Open mind’ needed to select next Archbishop, says CNC chair by Anna Rees, Premier