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This is a senior role, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support and advise the Archbishop of Canterbury in his role within the Anglican Communion. The post holder will be a member of the Archbishops’ Ministry Coordination Group which meets regularly, frequently with the Archbishop(s) attending in person, to bring together all the advisers who support the Archbishops in their ministry. Because of the unique role of the Archbishop of Canterbury in relation to the Anglican Communion, it is anticipated that the Archbishop will frequently call directly on the post holder for advice and support.

The creation at the start of 2022 of a new Faith and Public Life (F&PL) department for the National Church Institutions brings together for the first time a number of outward-facing activities formerly divided between the Archbishops’ Council and the staff of the Archbishops. Public policy and ethics, Parliamentary support for the Lords Spiritual and Second Church Estates Commissioner, Inter-faith relations, links to the Anglican Communion and Ecumenical relations, along with a number of project teams working on issues as diverse as modern-day slavery, freedom of religion and belief and social impact investment, all come together to form the new team, with opportunities to learn from one another and work effectively across specialisms. Administrative support for the Adviser for Anglican Communion Affairs will be provided through the F&PL support team.

The Anglican Communion consists of 42 autonomous national and regional Churches, plus five Extra Provincial Churches and dioceses; all of which are in Communion - in a reciprocal relationship - with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the Communion's spiritual head and focus of unity.

As one of the four instruments of Communion in the Anglican Communion – the others being the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) and the Primates’ Meeting – and as primus inter pares of the bishops of the Communion, the Archbishop has a central role to play in its life, mission and development, nourishing its holistic witness and interdependent life.

The Archbishop works closely with the other forty-one primates, and as President, with the ACC and with their Joint Standing Committee, as well as with the various commissions, networks and working groups active in the life of the Communion. At the invitation of individual primates and bishops, he undertakes pastoral visits to provinces of the Communion, and his advice and support is often sought when provinces face difficulties internally and in the national life of their respective nations.

The Anglican Communion Office, based at St Andrew’s House, is the permanent Secretariat for the Anglican Communion. It serves the Archbishop of Canterbury (in collaboration with staff at Lambeth Palace), the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primates’ Meetings, and the Lambeth Conferences as well as commissions, committees and groups that emerge from time to time, as the need arises. It is led by the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.

Over three quarters of the Communion is in sub Saharan Africa and a majority of its members live in conflict or post-conflict societies. The interaction with Islam as both a minority and majority is a significant challenge in many countries.

The Archbishop engages with governments and international organisations on a range of significant concerns, many integrally linked to the well-being and witness of Anglicans in their locality. This involvement embraces the Anglican Alliance and the Anglican Communion representatives to the United Nations. It involves areas of international diplomacy and conflict transformation, international development, inter faith relations and ecumenical co-operation.

The Adviser for Anglican Communion Affairs serves and supports the Archbishop in all matters relating to his Anglican Communion responsibilities.

The role requires a strategic “macro” overview, as well as attention on a “micro” level to particular issues relating to individual Provinces or Communion wide concerns. This means ensuring that the complex array of Communion-related work of colleagues in support of the Archbishop is properly integrated, by leading the Anglican Communion team at Lambeth, and working collaboratively with colleagues holding related portfolios, especially at the Anglican Communion Office.

Initial interviews will be conducted remotely by Zoom with an in-person interview in London for candidates on the final shortlist, at a date that is mutually convenient.

The main responsibilities for this role are:

Provide advice and assistance to the Archbishop on his responsibilities towards the Provinces of the Anglican Communion:

1. Co-ordinate support and advise colleagues at Lambeth Palace, Church House and the ACO on Anglican Communion affairs.
2. Maintain an overview of Anglican Communion affairs worldwide, including Communion-wide processes and an appreciation of the particular socio-political context and mission-challenges of individual churches and provinces.
3. Contribute to the shaping and furthering of the Archbishop’s strategic objectives within the Communion, particularly his priority of reconciliation, which seeks ways for the Communion to move forward together in diversity.
4. Advise the Archbishop about the content of his Communion-related sermons, lectures, addresses and pastoral letters, and as required prepare liturgical events, on occasion serving as his chaplain.
5. Manage and maintain the Primates’ WhatsApp group on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This entails monitoring the group, and adding new primates and removing those who have retired/stepped down.
6. Work with the CEO and Trustees of the Anglican Communion Fund (ACF) as they support Anglican Communion provinces and dioceses through the provision of funds in facilitating their ministries.
7. Represent the Archbishop of Canterbury as one of two Trustees of the Overseas Bishopric Fund (OBF).

Develop and strengthen relationships with key individuals and networks throughout the Communion and support the Church of England’s engagement with the Anglican Communion:

1. Maintain relationships with members of the ACC, Primates, key bishops, members of working groups and commissions, provincial secretaries, and representatives of mission agencies.
2. Represent the Archbishop in discussions with Anglican Communion stakeholders.
3. Participate in Anglican Communion and other working groups on behalf of the Archbishop, both as an active member and through maintaining an appropriate level of liaison with the Archbishop.
4. Maintain close contact with the Church of England Partnership for World Mission (PWM) Secretary and the PWM Mission agencies, participating in the PWM Panel meeting as the Archbishop’s representative.
5. Encourage the development and maintenance of companion links between dioceses of the Church of England and other dioceses of the Anglican Communion.
6. Attend Church of England General Synods in London and York.
7. Oversee arrangements of Primates and other Anglican Communion representatives attending General Synod.

Manage and provide leadership to the Lambeth Anglican Communion team:

1. Co-ordinate the Archbishop’s visits within the Anglican Communion, planning the visits with the host Church/Province, making preliminary visits as necessary, ensuring comprehensive briefing, accompanying the Archbishop on visits, overseeing practical arrangements and facilitating the realisation of objectives for visits.
2. Staff meetings at Lambeth Palace with visitors from the Anglican Communion, meeting personally with visitors when the Archbishop is unable to do so.
3. Deal with correspondence from and about the Anglican Communion, replying to letters on behalf of the Archbishop, and overseeing the drafting of letters for his signature.
4. Oversee the organisation of meetings, events and receptions relating to the Anglican Communion at Lambeth Palace and elsewhere.
5. Manage other members of the Lambeth Anglican Communion team, including annual Performance and Development Reviews, personal and strategic support, recruitment etc.

Develop and strengthen close links between Lambeth Palace and the Anglican Communion Office to ensure more effective cooperation in furthering the Archbishop’s strategic engagement within the Communion:

1. Work closely with the Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion and with other staff of the Anglican Communion Office regarding the life of the Anglican Communion, visiting the office regularly for meetings.
2. Assist the Archbishop with his responsibilities as host of the Lambeth Conference, convenor of the Primates’ Meeting and President of the Anglican Consultative Council.
3. Work with the ACO in planning for meetings of the Primates and the ACC, including the Joint Standing Committee.
4. Co-ordinate follow-up of the Calls of LC2022 on behalf of the Archbishop.

Participate in the senior leadership team at Lambeth Palace:

1. Attending regular meetings for the Archbishops to work with their Advisers (MCG), monthly IRRAG (International Relations & Reconciliation Advisory Group) meetings and working groups as required.
2. Work collaboratively with colleagues at Lambeth Palace and across the NCIs whose portfolios have an international dimension as they relate to the Anglican Communion.
3. Ensure appropriate briefing on Anglican Communion affairs to other staff of the Archbishops, representatives to the Holy See and European Union institutions, to further cross cultural understanding and an appreciation of global South priorities, and the issues these raise for policy.

Develop and maintain links with Extra Provincial dioceses:

1. Develop and maintain relationship with bishops of extra provincial dioceses
2. Maintain a liaison link between the dioceses and the Archbishop as the Metropolitan

The ideal candidate will have:

Essential

Knowledge/Experience:

• Demonstrate an ability to appreciate the cultures and traditions of churches in the Anglican Communion, and a capacity to bridge cultures, especially in Africa but also more widely.
• Have first-hand experience of at least five years working in a leadership role in an Anglican Church in another culture to their own, the majority of which in the Global South.
• Have first-hand experience of interaction with other major faiths, preferably in the Global South.
• Be able to demonstrate a track record of diplomatic skills.
• Demonstrate a capacity to relate to those caught up in violent conflict.
• Be committed to mission worldwide.
• Demonstrate an ability to appreciate the cultures and traditions of non-Anglican Churches and have some experience of ecumenical engagement.
• Be ordained and in either priest’s, or (preferably) episcopal orders. *

*This post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a Clerk in Holy Orders of the Anglican Church under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010 since the post holder will be required to represent the Archbishop in discussions with Anglican Communion counterparts, and within the Church of England, on Anglican Communion affairs.

Skills/Aptitudes:

• An aptitude for developing constructive relationships with other organisations and influential individuals.
• An aptitude for collecting, organising, and analysing information from a wide range of sources, and distilling them into an appropriate and succinct form for briefing purposes.
• An ability to oversee the organisation of events, meetings, and liturgy and attend to practical tasks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Excellent political judgement and ability to spot policy implications of particular issues and courses of action.
• Drafting and report writing skills.
• Ability to handle correspondence judiciously and communicate clearly in writing and orally.
• Ability to prioritise and to deliver high quality work under pressure.
• A combination of energy, flexibility, a sense of humour and a relaxed manner.
• High level of diplomacy and discretion.
• An ability to operate at a strategic level while retaining an eye for detail.
• Ability to assess the level of consultation (in scope and detail) required to carry out a particular task.
• Ability to chair meetings.
• IT skills, including MS Outlook and Word.

Education:

• Theological ability and knowledge, probably evidenced by qualifications such as a degree in Theology, Biblical Studies or a related discipline.

Circumstances:

• Ability to travel at home and abroad for several days at a time and to work outside normal office hours, as required.

Desirable

Knowledge/Experience:

• Knowledge of French, Spanish or Portuguese
• In-depth knowledge of one or more regions of the world
• Interaction with Islam in the Global South
• Be ordained and in bishop’s orders*

Education:

• A Research Degree, or equivalent, in a theologically related discipline.

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