Members of Synod considered a list of possible changes to its Standing Orders governing how the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), which nominates future diocesan bishops, operates.
The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Advisory Group for Appointments and Vocations, put forward a series of proposed changes aiming to simplify the process and help enable a broad representation.
Several changes were agreed but key amendments – reducing the two thirds voting threshold; ending the secret ballot and giving an archbishop an extra vote in some circumstances to help break a deadlock – did not pass.
When a see becomes vacant, a CNC gathers to consider possible candidates and put forward a name to the King through the Prime Minister. Once the nomination has been approved by the King, the new bishop is announced by Downing Street.
In each case the CNC is made up of a combination of representatives from the local diocese and a group of “central members”, elected from the General Synod to represent the national Church. The CNC nominating the next Archbishop of Canterbury will also include representatives from the global Anglican Communion.
Under the Standing Orders, at least two thirds of the members of a CNC, including any who decide to abstain, must support a nomination before it can go forward to the King.
Concerns were raised after two cases where CNCs were unable to make an appointment – for a new Bishop of Carlisle in December 2023 and of Ely in July 2024.
One key proposal was to reduce the threshold required for submitting a name to the Prime Minister from two-thirds to 60 per cent of a CNC. In a typical CNC for a diocesan bishop that would have reduced the number of votes needed from 10 out of 14 to nine.
The amendment was supported by majorities in the House of Bishops and House of Clergy but rejected by the House of Laity.
A proposal to end the the secret ballot was also rejected by the House of Laity and a proposal to give the person presiding at the CNC – usually an archbishop – an extra vote in certain circumstances fell in all three houses.
Changes approved
- Where one of the central members serving on a CNC is unable to attend, allowing the other member of their ‘pair’ to take their place.
- Enabling deputies to be substituted for the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary or the Archbishops’ Appointments Secretary if they are unable to attend.
- Allowing the CNC to invite an interpreter to attend meetings where necessary.
- Where the see of an archbishop is vacant, enabling the other archbishop to appoint a bishop to act as deputy.
- A temporary amendment enabling a bishop to preside at a CNC meeting where neither archbishop can attend.
Changes not approved
Give the person presiding at the relevant meeting of the Commission a second vote where no more than two candidates remained under consideration and no candidate had received the required level of support after three rounds of voting.
Changing the threshold required for submitting a name to the Prime Minister from two-thirds to 60 per cent of a CNC.
An amendment which would have prevented an abstention from being counted as, in effect, a vote against a candidate.
Replacing the requirement for a secret ballot with a requirement for a counted vote to be taken on a show of hands.
