Anglican Communion News Service

[Editors Note.. this article will be updated as we receive more responses from around the Communion ]

Message of welcome to Bishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury designate

I welcome the news that Bishop Justin Welby is to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. I believe that his appointment should give hope to all of us who long to see renewal, reform and genuine unity.

Bishop Justin will bring to the Anglican Communion a special combination of gifts and experience. I know him as a deeply committed servant of Jesus Christ who honours the Scriptures as the Word of God and as a courageous peacemaker. I am confident that these qualities, together with his sustained involvement in business and finance, will enable him to articulate the Lordship of Christ to a watching world as well as to a Communion in continuing disorder.

After the Primates of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans met earlier this year in London, we said we were praying for a ‘godly leader of God’s people’ to emerge from the selection procedure for the next Archbishop of Canterbury and I believe our prayer has been answered. 

However, it would be unfair and misleading to suggest that one man can resolve the crisis which has beset the Anglican Communion in recent years and we also stated our belief ‘that in the future development of the Anglican Communion the chair of the Primates Meeting should be elected by the Primates themselves’. 

Our proposal, while not intended to deny the honour due to Canterbury as an historic see, is an expression of the truth we hold as vital, that our identity as Anglicans stems first and foremost from adherence to the faith we confess. It is this which gives substance and integrity to our bonds of affection and our efforts to relieve poverty and promote development.

As the Primate of Kenya and Chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, I eagerly look forward to working with the new Archbishop of Canterbury as a partner in the gospel to restore much needed conviction, confidence and unity to the deeply fractured Anglican family.

I assure him of the prayers of this Province and the global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans as he prepares for this great calling to serve the Church of England and the wider Communion.

The Most Dr Rev’d Eliud Wabukala
Archbishop and Primate of Kenya and Chairman of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans

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Abp Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada: "Pray for the new Archbishop"

The Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, the Bishop of Durham, brings to the office of Archbishop of Canterbury a deep spirituality, a deep resolve in nurturing relationships throughout the Anglican Communion, and a deep commitment to God’s mission in the world. Known as a gifted communicator he is also respected for his passion for ecumenical relations and inter faith dialogue both of which are key to religious leadership in these times.

In sending greetings on behalf of The Anglican Church of Canada, I assured the Archbishop-Designate of our abiding commitment to the common life and witness of the Anglican Communion, and of the great joy with which he would be welcomed to visit our church in Canada. I do hope this will happen within the next few years.

Much awaits the new Archbishop - a move, an enthronement, a very broad ministry marked by extensive travel as an apostle of Christ. Please uphold Justin and his wife Caroline and their family in your prayers.

These are exciting and challenging times for all of us. Pray that they be times of grace and growth in our common life and service in the Gospel.

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A message from the Most Revd Carlos Touche-Porter, The Primate of Mexico

The Anglican Church of Mexico rejoices in the election of The Rt. Revd. Justin P. Welby as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

We pray for God´s blessing on Bishop Welby and his family at this time of transition and as our new spiritual leader and shepherd.

His gifts as a reconciler will be of blessing to our beloved Anglican Communion in the years to come. May God be praised.

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Australian Primate congratulates new Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate of Australia today welcomed the appointment of The Right Reverend Justin Welby as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr Aspinall said he was privileged to have met and worked with the Archbishop-elect during his tenure at Coventry Cathedral where Bishop Welby was a key leader in Coventry's internationally renowned ministry of reconciliation.

While congratulating Bishop Welby on his appointment as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Aspinall also expressed deep appreciation for departing Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams who has led the Anglican Communion through difficult times.

“I encourage all Anglicans to pray for both Bishop Welby and Archbishop Williams and their families during this period of change,” Dr Aspinall said.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury is a key leader in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The office carries great responsibility, especially at this time of strained relationships and vastly different approaches and understandings across the Communion. My prayer is that Bishop Justin will receive the grace needed be a wise, insightful, courageous and healing leader.”

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Message from Bishop of Harare, Zimbabwe, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya

As I send this message on behalf of the Diocese of Harare and myself, I would like to assure you of our prayers and best wishes.

May the Lord who has called you to this august position give you the strength and wisdom that you need to fulfill your ministry for His honour and glory. One of His promises is; Lo I am with you always.

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Primate of the Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America, The Most Revd. Hector Zavala

Dear Bishop Justin

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

On behalf of the Province of the Southern Cone of America, its bishops, clergy and people, we welcome you as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. We assure you our prayers to Almighty God, so that you may receive strength, wisdom and grace, to display a Christ-like ministry in this vital role for the Church of England and for the Anglican Communion.

It will be a joy to have communion with you in Christ and be partners in the proclamation and service of His gospel, for the sake of His kingdom.

Truly yours,
The Most Revd. Hector Zavala
Presiding Bishop

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Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, Canon David Richardson

I welcome the news that Bishop Justin is to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury and look forward to my time as his representative to the Holy See.

I believe his appointment will be welcomed in the Vatican, which will value his insights into new models of evangelization and his long-standing commitment to reconciliation and international understanding.

I know that all associated with the Anglican Centre in Rome will uphold Bishop Justin as he prepares to take up this key leadership role in the Anglican Communion.

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Statement from the Primate of West Africa, Archbishop S. Tilewa Johnson 

A new era has dawned. New elements were introduced in the search for the successor to +Rowan Cantuar, a sincere friend of our Province. For example, the 38 national churches or regional provinces that make up the Anglican Communion were consulted and their views genuinely solicited as to the kind of 105th Archbishop of Canterbury we would like to have as the President of the Anglican Communion.

As the newly elected Ninth Primate of All West Africa (minus Nigeria), I should like on behalf of the sixteen Diocesans, one Bishop Coadjutor, one Suffragan Bishop, eight Retired Bishops, hundreds of Priests, Deacons and Religious, and above all, the one million Laity to extend to His Grace the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England - +Justin our joy-filled felicitations on his unique appointment.

The journey of Archbishop Justin from 'oil' to the sacred Ministry will help in no measure to propel the new things God is ready to do in our Communion and in the world during the Archbishop's watch. We have read of his numerous gifts and talents, crowned with the fact that, like me, he went to Cranmer Hall, St John's, Durham - he in the Day days and I in the Ethchell days! +Justin will do well, under our Triune God.

We are confident that the daily life and death issues confronting the Two-Thirds World will be dealt with as such and given the priorty they deserve on the Communion's Global Agenda. We look forward to many opportunities for deep theological reflection and constructive engagement in Justice and Peace issues, from our perspective.

Welcome +Justin, and to +Rowan we say thank you for being such an extraordinary primus inter pares, and for choosing to make the Church of the Province of West Africa, your first port of call, outside the UK after your Enthronement in 1993!

+ Justin, our brother soon to be enthroned in the Chair of St. Augustine as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, I end with the motto of our alma mater: St John's College, Durham - Fides Nostra Victoria. May this be your watchword during your watch!

Wishing you every blessing.

+Tilewa

The Most Rev'd Dr S Tilewa Johnson - Primate, CPWA and Archbishop, IpWA

On behalf of episcopate, presbyterate and laity of the Church of West Africa (Anglican Communion)

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The three Archbishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia extend their Aroha, loloma, love to new Archbishop of Canterbury

Our prayers and thoughts are very much with Bishop Justin Welby as he prepares to become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Justin has been associated with conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace-making initiatives both as a layman in Africa, as well as in his work with the Cross of Nails Trust at Coventry Cathedral.

Archbishop David had the opportunity to work with Bishop Justin in 2007, and it was out of the Primates’ Meeting at Coventry, hosted by Bishop Justin, that the idea of what became The Bible in The Life of the Church project originated.

We can be confident that Bishop Justin will pick up the responsibilities of this huge and difficult task with much grace, intelligence and clarity – and we look forward to inviting Bishop Justin, as Archbishop of Canterbury, to our bicentennial celebration in 2014.

In the meantime, our prayers are with Bishop Justin and all his family at this time of massive adjustment and unexpected re-orientation in ministry and mission.

We wish that whole whanau our aroha, loloma and love.

Archbishop Brown Turei, Pihopa o Aotearoa
Archbishop Winston Halapua, Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia
Archbishop David Moxon, Senior Bishop of the New Zealand diocese.

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Archbishop of Dublin Welcomes Appointment of New Archbishop of Canterbury

On behalf of the Church of Ireland, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, has welcomed news of the appointment of the Right Revd Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, as Archbishop of Canterbury in succession to the Most Revd Rowan Williams.

Welcoming the appointment, Archbishop Jackson said: ‘Bishop Welby assumes office at what remains a critical time in worldwide Anglican relations. We in the Church of Ireland wish him all that is best for the future work on which he is soon to embark.’

‘The Church of Ireland has warm relations today with the Church of England and is always eager to contribute to the life of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. We enjoyed such relations during the period when Archbishop Williams was Archbishop of Canterbury and look forward to a continuation of this positive relationship under his successor,’ the Archbishop concluded.

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The Archbishop-designate of Armagh Welcomes Appointment of New Archbishop of Canterbury 

From The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke: 

‘As Archbishop-designate of Armagh, it is a genuine pleasure to extend my very best wishes to Bishop Justin Welby on his appointment as Archbishop-designate of Canterbury, and to assure him of my prayers and my very best wishes.  I wish him God’s blessing in all that he undertakes in his new responsibilities and assure him of my personal support as I look forward to a new friendship in the fellowship of the Gospel.’  

+Richard Meath and Kildare

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Commenting on the appointment of the Rt Rev Justin Welby as the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says:

“I warmly welcome the appointment of Bishop Justin Welby as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. He brings to this task a wonderful range of gifts - spiritual, relational and intellectual - as well as his varied life experience.  I have enjoyed and valued my contacts with him.  In the early stages of what has become Continuing Indaba - a movement of honest conversation across difference - his wide knowledge of the Anglican Communion, particularly in Africa, was of great importance.

“The new Archbishop has accepted a calling for which no one could feel himself adequately equipped.  The prayers of the Scottish Episcopal Church and of all the provinces of the Anglican Communion will be with him as he prepares to take up this ministry.”

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Archbishop Makgoba welcomes new Archbishop of Canterbury with experience in Africa 

‘I am delighted at the appointment of Bishop Justin Welby as the next Archbishop of Canterbury’ said the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, after the much anticipated announcement was formally made in London earlier today.  ‘The Church of England, with the Anglican Communion, has followed a long and careful discernment process, supported by much prayer around the world.  I am glad that they were able to take whatever time they needed to reach their decision – for it is clear that this has allowed them to make a good and wise choice.’ 

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Welsh welcome for new Archbishop of Canterbury

The Church in Wales , home Province of the out-going Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, welcomes his successor Bishop Justin Welby as the new leader of the Anglican Church.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, who was a member of the committee which elected Bishop Welby, said:

“Having provided the Church of England with the present Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church in Wales knows all too well both the tremendous promise and tremendous frustration of that post. So all our prayers, heartfelt and informed, are offered for Bishop Welby as he prepares to move from Durham to Lambeth, that he may refresh, recharge and cheer the Church of England, and the Anglican Communion throughout the world, with the Christ who cherishes all God's children, calling us day by day to life in all its fullness.”

Dr Morgan was elected to serve on the Crown Nominations Committee by the Anglican Consultative Council.

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The Diocese of Bangor welcomes the appointment of Bishop Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury and the new leader of the worlwide Anglican Church.

The Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Andrew John said:

“It has been a privilege for the Church in Wales to have one of its own leading the worldwide Anglican Church as well as the Church of England. The Diocese of Bangor wishes Dr. Williams every happiness in his retirement.’’

We warmly welcome the appointment of Bishop Justin Welby as the next Archbishop of Canterbury and assure him and his family of our prayers and support. His experience in the ministry of reconciliation will be an essential part of his new worldwide ministry and his ministry of reaching to people outside usual Church boundaries is an excellent example of seeking to re-engage people with our Christian faith.

We look forward to welcoming the new Archbishop to Wales and to the Diocese of Bangor in the years to come and pray that the move from Durham to Lambeth will happen smoothly ."

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A Statement of the Archbishop of York, The Most Revd & Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, following the Announcement that Bishop Justin Welby will be the 105^th Archbishop of Canterbury

Bishop Justin Welby has many gifts and unique experience to bring to this daunting office. More importantly he, like Archbishop Rowan, is a man of God. I have been praying for him, will go on doing so with renewed vigour, and will continue to work with him as a brother and friend in Christ. He can count on the same brotherly affection and co-operation that I have given Archbishop Rowan.

The tipsters and lobbyists’ predictions can now return to silence. The appointment of an Archbishop is neither akin to a horse race nor a presidential campaign, and it is a relief that the rumour-mill which has been grinding out misinformation, has now ground to a halt.

This country and our world need a missionary to share with them the all-encompassing message of the love of God in Jesus Christ, who rose gloriously from an ignominious death. That is the great role to which Bishop Justin has been called.

Prayer is the Church’s greatest weapon, without which we are spiritually powerless. I call upon everyone in the Province of York, and in the wider Anglican Communion, especially those in the Global South, to spend time with God on their knees, bringing Bishop Justin, Caroline and their children before Him and asking that he be given wisdom, courage and the grace of Jesus Christ.

Finally, a big thank you to the many, many people from all walks of life in our Four Nations, the Global South, the Diocese of York, the Northern Province, my loyal staff family at Bishopthorpe Palace, who have specifically prayed, supported and encouraged me in the past seven months.

We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.

+Sentamu Ebor: