LWF Leaders Welcome Nomination of New Leader for Anglican Communion
The nomination of Bishop Justin Welby as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury was announced today at Lambeth Palace. © Lambeth Palace/Picture Partnership
Durham Bishop Justin Welby Named Successor of Archbishop of Canterbury
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) receives with “great joy” the news about the nomination of Bishop Justin Welby as the new leader of the Anglican Communion.
The Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury announced today the Queen’s approval of the nomination of Welby for election as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. He will succeed Dr Rowan Williams who is retiring at the end of December after ten years in office.
In a letter today congratulating Archbishop-designate Welby on his nomination, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge affirmed the “profound theological work and close practical cooperation” that characterize the long standing relations between the Lutheran and Anglican world communions.
They referred to the outcomes of ecumenical dialogues between the two communions, and mentioned the recent final report of the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission that shows how church ministries are transforming relations between churches in both communions. In anticipation of the first meeting of the next phase of the dialogue group in 2013, the LWF leaders said they are convinced that this “is a strong sign of our on-going commitment for joint witness.”
Younan and Junge underlined the contribution of the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, saying the “Lutheran communion has been enriched” through his leadership. They expressed hope that “the fruitful exchange of theological and spiritual gifts between our two Christian traditions will continue in the future as well,” and wished Bishop Justin Welby God’s inspiration, wisdom, perseverance and joy as he prepares to assume his new office.
Welby, 56, is currently bishop of Durham. He studied history and law and worked in the oil industry, before taking up pastoral studies in the early 1990s. He was ordained as a priest in 1993, and worked for several years in the Coventry diocese. He served as Dean of Liverpool from 2007 until 2011 when he was elected bishop of Durham. He will be enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury on 21 March 2013.
Bishop Welby and his wife Caroline have five children.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is primate of the Church of England and spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion comprising some 80 million members.