Lambeth deputy to become Archbishops’ Appointment Secretary

THE next Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments will be Stephen Knott, currently deputy chief of staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury, it was announced on Thursday.

Mr Knott has been part of the Lambeth Palace staff team since 2013… He was an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve from 2011 to 2018, and in July last year, he married Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, Governor of Edinburgh Castle, in St John’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, with the Bishop of Edinburgh officiating.

The Archbishops’ Secretary manages the process for the appointment of bishops, deans, and other senior posts in the Church of England, working closely with the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary…

…Welcoming the appointment of Mr Knott, a joint statement by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York said: “His commitment to, and knowledge of, the Church of England stands him in sure stead to manage the processes for senior appointments, as the Church seeks to follow God’s call in the coming years.”

The Church of England’s astonishing appointment, by David Baker, Christian Today

On the appointment of senior leaders in the Church, by Ian Paul, Psephizo:
Features a comment piece by Ed Shaw: The Church of England keeps asking its gay members to go against their convictions and consciences.

Questions raised about Archbishops’ appointment, By Luke Appleton, Anglican Ink:

Appointments Secretary appointed:
Letter to The Editor, Church Times, by Rebecca Chapman, Lay Member of General Synod
Why has the person responsible for our most senior clerical appointments been chosen through such an unclear and unknown process?

And, in case anyone is in doubt about the faithfulness to historic Christian doctrine, or even the neutrality of the senior leaders on this issue:

Gay, lesbian bishops meet online with archbishop of Canterbury ahead of Lambeth Conference, by David Paulsen, ENS:

Four gay and lesbian Episcopal bishops, along with two from Anglican dioceses in Canada and Wales, spoke with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby on Jan. 11 in what they described afterward as “a very Christ-centered meeting,” as bishops across the global Anglican Communion prepare to attend the Lambeth Conference in late July and early August.