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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:
Develop and strengthen relationships with key individuals and networks throughout the Communion and support the Church of England’s engagement with the Anglican Communion:
Manage and provide leadership to the Lambeth Anglican Communion team:
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:
Participate in the senior leadership team at Lambeth Palace:
Develop and maintain links with Extra Provincial dioceses:
The ideal candidate will have:
Essential
Knowledge/Experience:
*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:
Education:
Circumstances:
Desirable
Knowledge/Experience:
Education:
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