What does Melbourne need in a new archbishop? Board calls for your thoughts

Elspeth Kernebone

11 September 2024

Anglicans have been urged to share their thoughts on what Melbourne needs in a new archbishop as the diocese’s board to nominate candidates prepares to report on its initial findings to synod. 

Anglicans can also submit the names of potential candidates to the board for consideration. 

The Board of Nominators has indicated that the synod for electing a new archbishop will not be held before May 2025. It must be held no later than 10 August 2025.

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Board of Nominators chair Jenny George said input from the community helped the board choose candidates around whom the diocese could unite. 

Dr George said the board wanted Anglicans in Melbourne, particularly synod representatives, to tell them what the challenges were for the diocese, and what the diocese was excited about. 

She encouraged people to pray for the process, to seek God’s guidance and prepare the diocese itself for a new leader.  

“We want to make sure that the next archbishop is able to unite the church around an exciting vision of the future, is able to help the church grow, and is a person who will be respected and followed across the diocese,” Dr George said.

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Dr George said the board would particularly try to engage communities which might not otherwise find it easy to participate in the consultation, such as people who did not speak English as their first language. 

Dr George said at October’s synod there would be a chance for members to hear about the input the board had gathered so far, and give their own feedback. 

She said this would contribute to a set of questions and selection criteria, which the board would then be able to use as part of the discernment process, and report back to synod on. 

At present the Board of Nominators has 16 members, including Matthew Crichton, Jenny George, Ian Gibson, Ian Harper, Fiona McLean, Chris Sadler, Michael Shand, Dianne Shay, Peter Sherlock and clergy Kirsty Brown, Farag Hanna, Andrew Livingstone, Andreas Loewe, Christopher Porter, Ben Wong and Alison Taylor. 

A survey is available on the Board of Nominators website. Feedback to go to synod must be submitted before 27 September. 

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