Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 26 October 2010.
Natascha Engel
Chair, Backbench Business Committee, Chair, Backbench Business Committee
2:30,
26 October 2010
What recent representations the Church commissioners have received on the criteria for the appointment of bishops in the Church of England; and if he will make a statement.
Tony Baldry
The Second Church Estates Commissioner, The Second Church Estates Commissioner
The canons require that anyone to be considered and consecrated as a bishop at present has to be male and over 30.
Natascha Engel
Chair, Backbench Business Committee, Chair, Backbench Business Committee
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that answer. The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently written a newspaper article saying that it is okay to be a gay bishop as long as one is celibate. Where does the Church of England stand on people in civil partnerships? If they are celibate, are they okay to be bishops too?
Tony Baldry
The Second Church Estates Commissioner, The Second Church Estates Commissioner
There is no Church of England rule that prevents a celibate person in a civil partnership from being considered for appointment as a bishop. The issue is whether someone in that position could act as a focus for unity in a diocese. That would have to be considered by those responsible for making any episcopal appointment.
Matters concerning the established Church of England are dealt with at Question Time by a parliamentary representative of the church commissioners.
The church commissioner's role is to answer any parliamentary questions relating to the Church of England in the same way that a government minister may face questions about a particular government department.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner is appointed by the crown and is traditionally a backbench member of the party in government. The appointment lasts for the duration of the Parliament.
