News Desk

What happens during a ‘Vacancy in See’

The appointment of Bishops is a national matter, in which the local church has an opportunity to be heard, and to share in the process.

The Prime Minister’s and the Archbishop’s appointments secretaries will visit the diocese and ask for views.

In a more formal way they meet with the members of our Vacancy in See Committee. This group has the task of electing four members who will be on the panel which selects the Bishop, and it produces a document called a Statement of Needs. This is, in effect, like a parish profile. It describes the diocese, the job, and the hopes about the new Bishop. It is possible also to suggest names of people who might be considered as the future Bishop.

Membership of the Vacancy in See Committee includes the Suffragan Bishop, the Dean, an archdeacon, General Synod representatives, and representatives of the University of Cambridge and each of the archdeaconries: Canon Wadsworth, Stephen Tooke, Tom Ambrose, Mr Sadler, Mr S Thomas, Brigadier Leslie, Mrs P Thomas, Dr A W Greer, Lady Hughes, Professor Ford, Professor Anthony Hewish.

A full list will be posted later.

Any member of the Vacancy in See Committee would be pleased to learn of your views about the needs of the diocese when a new appointment is being considered.

For further information contact the Diocesan Director of Communications, the Revd Tom Ambrose <Tom.Ambrose@ely.anglican.org>, telephone 01353 669420; fax 01353 669609; The Vicarage, Main Street, Witchford, Ely CB6 2HQ.

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introduction | letter | announcement | Vacancy in See | Diocese of Ely
webmaster@ely.anglican.org 18th April 1999