Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hope on April 10, 2016, 07:49:16 PM
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Can remember discussing with my father as to whether the Anglican Communion would ever appoint an Archbishop of Canterbury from a member province other than the CofE.
As a Church of England Anglican clergyman, he wasn't aware of any ecclesiastical law that made this impossible - just tradition. What do others here think?
I realise that this is on an open board; I've placed it here on purpose so that any non-Christian/atheist who is interested can take part.
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Presumably the Episcopalian church, equivalent of CofE, could be considered.
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It has, of course, already appointed one such 'foreigner' - the present incumbent's predecessor, Rowan Williams.
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He was an Anglican bishop Hope, as I am sure you know. It doesn't matter where someone was born, in Archbishop Williams's case it was South Wales, but I've not heard of a non-Anglican becoming AofC. I suppose it could happen but whatever church they belong to would have to be compatible with the CofE - and they'd have to become Anglican. I mentioned the Episcopalians but I think they are compatible with Anglicanism. I suppose you're thinking of other churches, like Methodist or CofS and I've no idea how that would work.