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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 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, was named on Friday as the new archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the world’s estimated 77 million Anglicans, saying he would support the elevation of women priests to the senior clergy and warning against homophobia.
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. The two issues have been at the center of profound divisions within the Anglican Communion, threatening to tear it asunder. But, with his first signals, Bishop Welby seemed to chart a middle course, saying he would vote in favor of the ordination of women as bishops at a crucial church ballot in 10 days but endorsing earlier church statements criticizing government plans to legalize same-sex marriage.
Speaking of his appointment at a news conference shortly after the announcement, Bishop Welby said: “It’s exciting, because I believe that we are at one of those rare points, where the tide of events is turning, and the church nationally including the Church of England has great opportunities to match its very great, but often hidden strengths.” Drawing on a career that has taken him from the executive suites of French and British oil companies, to hardscrabble parish churches in the British Midlands and to the scenes of sectarian strife in Africa and the Middle East, Bishop Welby said he had a “passion for reconciliation.”
“I feel a massive sense of privilege at being one of those responsible for the leadership of the church, in a time of spiritual hunger, when our network of parishes and churches and schools and above all people means that we are facing the toughest issues in the toughest places,” he said. And, on one of the most contentious matters that divides Anglicans from Africa to America, he promised to “listen very attentively” to those who disagreed with his views on sexual issues.
He began his news conference with a prayer. “We must have no truck with any form of homophobia in any part of the church,” he told reporters.
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. “I am always averse to the language of exclusion,” he said, suggesting some readiness to listen to the arguments of those who disagree with him, saying he would “listen very attentively” and “examine my own thinking carefully and prayerfully.”
Bishop Welby, 56, 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 will replace the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, who announced in March that he would step down at the end of the year. The appointment was announced by the office of Prime Minister David Cameron.
He told reporters that, at a forthcoming ballot, he would vote in favor of the ordination of women bishops. On the issue of same-sex marriage, he said: “We must have no truck with any form of homophobia.” At a news conference shortly afterward, Bishop Welby said: “It’s exciting, because I believe that we are at one of those rare points, where the tide of events is turning, and the church nationally including the Church of England has great opportunities to match its very great, but often hidden strengths.”
“I am always averse to the language of exclusion,” he said, suggesting some readiness to listen to the arguments of those who disagree with him. But he made clear that he supported a statement earlier this by Anglican bishops opposing government plans to legalize same-sex marriage. “I feel a massive sense of privilege at being one of those responsible for the leadership of the church, in a time of spiritual hunger, when our network of parishes and churches and schools and above all people means that we are facing the toughest issues in the toughest places,” he said. Bishop Welby emerged as the favorite to become the 105th archbishop of Canterbury only after tortuous negotiations within the Church of England that led to frequent reports of deadlock and disagreement among members of the church commission that chose him.
He said he wanted the church to be “a place where we can disagree in love.” His appointment was likely to be closely watched in the Vatican, where the Roman Catholic hierarchy has sought to lure away Anglican priests who have become disaffected with what they see as a liberalizing trend in the Church of England. 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.
His appointment was likely to be closely watched in the Vatican, where the Roman Catholic hierarchy has sought to lure away Anglican priests who have become disaffected with what they see as a liberalizing trend in the Church of England.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. 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. He was made bishop of Durham — the fourth-ranking diocese in the hierarchy — only a year ago.
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. Bishop Welby has a reputation as self-deprecating. On Friday, he called his appointment “something I never expected.” When he heard from Mr. Cameron’s office that he was to be offered the position, “my initial reaction was: oh, no,” he said.
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. 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.
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 also led church organizations devoted to mediation and reconciliation in conflict zones, traveling to northern Nigeria, Kenya, Burundi and the Middle East. 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.
He has a reputation as self-deprecating. On Friday, he called his appointment “something I never expected.” When he heard from Mr. Cameron’s office that he was to be offered the position, “my initial reaction was: oh, no,” he said. Archbishop Williams spent much of his tenure 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.
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 on Friday that 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.
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.” The announcement on Friday 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 next year.
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.
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.