Integrity welcomes the announcement today of the next
Archbishop of Canterbury: Bishop Justin Welby, currently Bishop of Durham. It is
a difficult position – to be the designated “instrument of unity” for a
Communion which is increasingly diverse and attempts to draw together peoples
and countries with competing needs. Bishop Welby comes well equipped to take on
the challenge, having worked in Africa and
being familiar with the Church in several different countries.
Welby comes from the evangelical wing of the relatively
conservative Church of England, and is said to oppose gay marriage. Caroline
Hall, President of Integrity USA, said, “Our prayers will be with Bishop Welby as he
takes on this enormous challenge. I hope that he will be able to build on the
experience of his predecessor, Archbishop Williams and manage not to cave to the
tactics of bullies. The majority of Anglicans want to work together to further
the reign of God, and it will be Bishop Welby’s task to provide leadership for
this cooperation. In the reign of God there is neither male nor female, black
nor white, gay nor straight. I hope that he can help us to make this vision of
inclusivity a reality throughout the Anglican
Communion.”
When visiting the Episcopal House of Bishops earlier this
year, Bishop Welby said, “I pray and hope that we live with confidence and hope,
and grow in the ability to live in complexity. That we are able to have
diversity without enmity. God has made the churches full of diversity, that is
the miracle of unity, praise God for diversity, when lived in love and
integrity.” Integrity's hope is that the Bishop will be able so to
do.
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