The Lead

Having built up the story that Jeffrey John was likely to be the next bishop of Southwark, Jonathan Wynne-Jones of The Telegraph is now saying he won't be:

I can reveal that Dr Jeffrey John, the openly gay but celibate Dean of St Albans, has been blocked from becoming a bishop once again. He has not been chosen as the next Bishop of Southwark. Liberals will be dismayed that the Church has lost its nerve – but there is no reason for evangelicals to celebrate, either. This is bad news whichever way you look at it:
1) The Church has missed an opportunity to show that it is inclusive of homosexuals.

2) Jeffrey John has gained a reputation as a gifted preacher and effective pastor at St Albans cathedral and would have been a popular bishop.

3) It indicates that the Crown Nominations Commission is afraid of appointing any bishops who might bring a bit of colour.

4) A dignified and talented cleric has been embarrassed again.

5) The row over homosexual clergy could have been brought to a head, but will now fester until a gay priest is finally made a bishop.

It is also bad news for Rowan Williams. Although he is only one of 14 members of the Commission, liberals will be perplexed as to why he allowed John’s name to be included on the shortlist if it was only to be rejected at the last minute. To be fair, he didn’t know that this fact would be leaked to me, and he is said to have been livid with the Commission that it was.

Emphasis added.

We'll stay on top of developments, hence our question mark.

Churchmouse calls it a "classic media cockup."

Added:

@twitter: "RuthieGledhill Rowan lost rag at meeting of CNC and Jeffrey John has not been chosen for Southwark. What a crazy, crazy Church."

"Lost rag" is an ecclesial term: to suddenly become very angry and start shouting. He said one too many stupid things and I just lost my rag. It was the only time I've ever lost my rag with someone in an office situation. After the attack Cranston dialled 999 to call an ambulance and confessed his crime, saying he had 'lost his rag', Reading Crown Court heard.

Comments (7)

It looks like Dr. John can have sex again! With friends like Rowan...

Posted by Christopher Cooper | July 7, 2010 5:14 PM

Must have been a slow week for Wynne-Jones -

Posted by Ann Fontaine | July 7, 2010 5:34 PM

Is it really better that the ++ABC thought it a good thing to scuttle the nomination in secret? It is too bad the Commission didn't have the fortitude to sabotage this cruelty and put Dean Johns name as one of the final nominees.

Posted by Michael Russell | July 7, 2010 6:23 PM

I think Colin Coward really BRINGS IT on this: http://changingattitude-england.blogspot.com/2010/07/jeffrey-john-will-not-be-next-bishop-of.html

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux | July 7, 2010 6:48 PM

I suspect that the "real" story will have been the private debate, if Dr. John was indeed a "short-list" candidate. In honesty, I cannot imagine ++Rowan not objecting extremely strenuously to John's appointment, given his quite plain willingness to pressure TEC in its own deliberations over episcopal candidates. It would, however, have been delightful if John was appointed, if only to see how the ABC would deal with it. He might have had to remove himself as an instrument of unity in the Anglican Communion, at least in ecumenical dialogues. One would expect that the C of E could only have been a "second tier" subscriber to the Covenant as well, perhaps making it necessary for a primate from Africa or the Southern Cone to "step in" as primus inter pares. That would indeed have been a choice meal!

Posted by Jeffrey L. Shy, M.D. | July 7, 2010 7:22 PM

@JC Fisher: Yes, brilliant piece by Colin Coward...

And re: "It may be the final opportunity to nominate Jeffrey to a diocese and it may be the last opportunity the Archbishop of Canterbury has to appoint an openly gay person as a bishop...":

Well then it's time for a TEC diocese to elect Dr. John, methinks... His gifts may not be fully respected in England, but they would be here.

Posted by David Cornell | July 7, 2010 7:48 PM

May we pleeease have a change of ABC? Don't make us beg any further.

Preferably one who is equipped for the task, is willing to be bishop of ALL the people without playing favorites, and with enough character to be worthy of the cathedra?

Cheryl A. Mack

Posted by ncmama | July 7, 2010 10:12 PM

Add your comments

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Reminder: At Episcopal Café, we hope to establish an ethic of transparency by requiring all contributors and commentators to make submissions under their real names. For more details see our Feedback Policy.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)

CATEGORIES

Organizations