SIX members of our vacancy-in-see committee have been elected to work alongside the Crown Nominations Commission.

The diocese's vacancy-in-see committee is the group that is guiding our diocese through the process of choosing a new bishop.  It is chaired by the Ven Peter Hancock, Archdeacon of the Meon. It includes the three archdeacons, the dean, the diocese’s six representatives on the Church of England’s General Synod, and other elected clergy and worshippers. They have been putting together a profile of Portsmouth’s Anglican diocese and the qualities they hope to see in the new bishop.

Six members of that vacancy-in-see committee have just been elected to work alongside the Crown Nominations Commission, which includes the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Ultimately, the commission will submit two names to the prime minister, who will then ask the Queen to approve one of them.

Those six members are: Mrs Sue Rodgers, Mr Peter Lowater, Mr Michael Taylor, The Ven Caroline Baston, The Revd Canon Bob White and The Revd Canon David Isaac.  Members of the diocese are invited to write to any of this group with their comments or to suggest possible names for bishop.  Whilst these representatives will not be able to enter into correspondence, they will have regard to representations made to them. Click here for contact details.

Anyone who would like to comment, is also encouraged to contact the Ven Peter Hancock on 01329-280101 or on admeon(at)portsmouth.anglican.org.

It is expected that the appointment of a new Bishop of Portsmouth will be announced by the end of 2009 and the new bishop will be enthroned by next summer.

Bishop Kenneth will step down in September and move to Chichester with his wife Sarah. Two farewell services are already planned – at 3pm on September 6 in Newport Minster, and at 3pm on September 12 in Portsmouth Cathedral.