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| Former Oil Executive Appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury | Former Oil Executive Appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury |
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| LONDON — The bishop of Durham, Justin Welby — a former oil company executive who once said he was unable to escape “a sense of God calling” — was named on Friday as the new archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England and the world’s estimated 77 million Anglicans, who are facing deep divisions over same-sex marriage and the elevation of women priests to the senior clergy. | LONDON — The bishop of Durham, Justin Welby — a former oil company executive who once said he was unable to escape “a sense of God calling” — was named on Friday as the new archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England and the world’s estimated 77 million Anglicans, who are facing deep divisions over same-sex marriage and the elevation of women priests to the senior clergy. |
| He replaces the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, who announced in March that he would step down at the end of the year, saying his successor should have “the constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros.” His appointment was announced by the office of Prime Minister David Cameron. | He replaces the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, who announced in March that he would step down at the end of the year, saying his successor should have “the constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros.” His appointment was announced by the office of Prime Minister David Cameron. |
| Though the appointment of a successor was supposed to be secret, word leaked out this week that Bishop Welby had been chosen, prompting bookmakers to close their books after an avalanche of bets on him. His name emerged after tortuous negotiations within the Church of England with frequent reports of deadlock and disagreement over the appointment of a successor to Archbishop Williams. | |
| Bishop Welby, 56, who will be the 105th archbishop of Canterbury, is said to have been chosen over three other leading contenders: the archbishop of York, John Sentamu; the bishop of Norwich, Graham Jones; and the bishop of London, Richard Chartres. Bishop Welby is regarded as an evangelical conservative in opposing same-sex marriage, but he is also said to take a more liberal position on the ordination of female bishops, favoring the elevation of women to senior church positions. | Bishop Welby, 56, who will be the 105th archbishop of Canterbury, is said to have been chosen over three other leading contenders: the archbishop of York, John Sentamu; the bishop of Norwich, Graham Jones; and the bishop of London, Richard Chartres. Bishop Welby is regarded as an evangelical conservative in opposing same-sex marriage, but he is also said to take a more liberal position on the ordination of female bishops, favoring the elevation of women to senior church positions. |
| Like Prime Minister Cameron and other members of the British elite, including the royal family, Bishop Welby was educated at Eton College. He went on to study law and history at Cambridge University before working for 11 years in the treasury departments of the French Elf Aquitaine oil company and later of a British exploration company, Enterprise Oil. | Like Prime Minister Cameron and other members of the British elite, including the royal family, Bishop Welby was educated at Eton College. He went on to study law and history at Cambridge University before working for 11 years in the treasury departments of the French Elf Aquitaine oil company and later of a British exploration company, Enterprise Oil. |
| After his youngest daughter, Johanna, was killed in a car crash in 1983, he said, “It was a very dark time for my wife, Caroline, and myself, but in a strange way it actually brought us closer to God.” They have five other children. | After his youngest daughter, Johanna, was killed in a car crash in 1983, he said, “It was a very dark time for my wife, Caroline, and myself, but in a strange way it actually brought us closer to God.” They have five other children. |
| His rise through the church ranks has been widely described as meteoric. He began his training as a priest in 1987 and was made a deacon in 1992. | His rise through the church ranks has been widely described as meteoric. He began his training as a priest in 1987 and was made a deacon in 1992. |
| In an interview published in September in Money Marketing, a British financial newspaper, Bishop Welby said he had abandoned the oil industry in favor of the church because “I was unable to get away from a sense of God calling.” | In an interview published in September in Money Marketing, a British financial newspaper, Bishop Welby said he had abandoned the oil industry in favor of the church because “I was unable to get away from a sense of God calling.” |
| He has a reputation as self-deprecating. At a news conference on Friday, he called his appointment “astonishing and exciting” and “something I never expected.” | |
| He added: “I’m utterly optimistic about the future of the church.”Before becoming bishop of Durham, he worked in the British Midlands as a parish priest and at the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool in the northwest. | |
| He also led church organizations devoted to mediation and reconciliation in conflict zones, traveling to northern Nigeria, Kenya, Burundi and the Middle East. He said the experience had given him a “passion for reconciliation.”His visits to Africa also gave him firsthand contact with African Anglicans who are generally held to be far more conservative on gender and gay issues than some of their Western counterparts, particularly in the United States where Episcopalians are deeply divided. | |
| Archbishop Williams has spent much of his time as archbishop of Canterbury trying to avoid an open schism but he acknowledged publicly in March that “there are some conflicts that won’t go away, however long you struggle with them.” Not everybody “in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation,” he said. | Archbishop Williams has spent much of his time as archbishop of Canterbury trying to avoid an open schism but he acknowledged publicly in March that “there are some conflicts that won’t go away, however long you struggle with them.” Not everybody “in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation,” he said. |
| Bishop Welby was made Bishop of Durham — the fourth-ranking bishopric in the hierarchy — only a year ago. | Bishop Welby was made Bishop of Durham — the fourth-ranking bishopric in the hierarchy — only a year ago. |
| His experience both in business and conflict resolution represent a marked departure from his predecessor’s background as a theologian and poet. | His experience both in business and conflict resolution represent a marked departure from his predecessor’s background as a theologian and poet. |
| Earlier this year, as a member of the upper House of Lords, to which Anglican bishops are routinely appointed, Bishop Welby joined a parliamentary panel scrutinizing the behavior of British banks. He is known as an opponent of corporate excess and has been critical of banks. | Earlier this year, as a member of the upper House of Lords, to which Anglican bishops are routinely appointed, Bishop Welby joined a parliamentary panel scrutinizing the behavior of British banks. He is known as an opponent of corporate excess and has been critical of banks. |
| Speaking at a conference in Zurich, according to a financial Web site, he described banks as “exponents of anarchy” before the financial crisis in 2008 because they pursued “activity without purpose.” | Speaking at a conference in Zurich, according to a financial Web site, he described banks as “exponents of anarchy” before the financial crisis in 2008 because they pursued “activity without purpose.” |
| The Financial Times reported on Friday that, as archbishop of Canterbury, he would remain on the parliamentary panel examining banking ethics. | The Financial Times reported on Friday that, as archbishop of Canterbury, he would remain on the parliamentary panel examining banking ethics. |
| In June, Bishop Welby told The Mail on Sunday newspaper that his father, Gavin Welby, had made a living as a bootlegger during Prohibition in the United States after the bishop’s grandmother had sent him to America. “I remember my father telling me she gave him five pounds and put him on a boat,” he was quoted as saying. “He said he went to New York in 1929 and traded whiskey.” | In June, Bishop Welby told The Mail on Sunday newspaper that his father, Gavin Welby, had made a living as a bootlegger during Prohibition in the United States after the bishop’s grandmother had sent him to America. “I remember my father telling me she gave him five pounds and put him on a boat,” he was quoted as saying. “He said he went to New York in 1929 and traded whiskey.” |
| According to biographies in British newspapers, Gavin Welby later moved in the same circles as the Kennedy family before returning to Britain and marrying a private secretary to Winston Churchill, Jane Portal, who became Bishop Welby’s mother. | According to biographies in British newspapers, Gavin Welby later moved in the same circles as the Kennedy family before returning to Britain and marrying a private secretary to Winston Churchill, Jane Portal, who became Bishop Welby’s mother. |
| The announcement is the first of several steps leading to Bishop Welby’s consecration as archbishop, including formal approval by Queen Elizabeth II, the titular head of the Church of England, endorsement by the college of canons at Canterbury Cathedral and his enthronement there. | The announcement is the first of several steps leading to Bishop Welby’s consecration as archbishop, including formal approval by Queen Elizabeth II, the titular head of the Church of England, endorsement by the college of canons at Canterbury Cathedral and his enthronement there. |
| Archbishop Williams has said he plans to become Master of Magdalene College at Cambridge University in January. | Archbishop Williams has said he plans to become Master of Magdalene College at Cambridge University in January. |