Brown Releases Powers to Appoint Church & Judicial Posts

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown regarding changes to the process by which diocesan bishops are appointed.

Prime Minister Brown unveiled a range of constitutional changes on Wednesday that will see a change to the way that bishops in the Church of England are appointed.

Dr Sentamu said that the Church had been given advance warning of the proposed changes. He welcomed the plans, which he said were in accord with the 'declared wish of the Church of England'.

The specific issues of the proposals will be dealt with by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, when he returns from study leave.

Archbishop Sentamu said: "The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice consulted me about his intentions which I believe accord with the declared wish of the Church of England.

"I welcome the prospect of the Church being the 'decisive voice in the appointment of bishops' which the General Synod called for 33 years ago (in 1974).

"I am grateful for the Prime Minister's thoughtfulness and for his overt support for the role of the Queen and the establishment by law of the Church of England which have been strongly reiterated in the green paper."

Following the Prime Minister's statement and the publication of the green paper outlining his proposals, the Church of England will also engage in a constructive conversation with the Government concerning the appointment by the monarch of deans, canons and parish clergy where the Sovereign has a prerogative.

"The challenge we face as the Church of England is to use the sacred trust, enshrined in law, for the common good of all the people of England," added Dr Sentamu. "Our vocation is to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves: doing to others that which we would wish to be done to us. Our presence in every part of England must be used for bridging, bonding, partnership and friendship for all."

Among other changes proposed by Brown were new powers giving Parliament the final decision on declaring war, the creation of Commons committees for each English region, moving election days to the weekend, and the creation of a new National Security Council.