Dr Jeffrey John, the openly gay Dean of St Albans, has twice been nominated to posts as bishop, and twice been unceremoniously discarded because he is both gay and partnered (but celibate), and in spite of being widely regarded as the best qualified candidate available. But times have changed, with the recent formal acceptance by the Church pf England of a proposal that partnered gay clergy, if celibate, should not thereby be excluded from ordination to the episcopacy.

News that Dr John has again been nominated to a bishopric, and this time to the notably senior see of Durham, formerly occupied by Bishop Justin Welby before his own elevation to the see of Canterbury, could just mean the third time lucky for Dr John, who is one of three candidates nominated to the post.

Dr Jeffrey John, the openly gay Dean of St Albans, has been widely tipped for consideration as Bishop of Durham, a move which would catapult him into the third most senior post in the Church of England, and one held until recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby.

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In addition to the vacancy in Durham, there are four more dioceses in search of bishops - and at least one of these, Manchester is actively looking for a candidate who is at least gay - friendly:

The Diocese of Manchester has instructed the official panel appointing its new bishop to select someone who can establish “positive relationships” with gay Anglicans and non-worshippers.
The panel, which met on Friday, was told that the successor to the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, who retired earlier this year, should build on “significant engagement” with “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities” in Manchester. A a formal “statement of needs” drawn up by the diocese’s Vacancy in See committee and formally submitted to the Crown Nominations Commission - the panel responsible for the appointment - said it was important to note that the diocese is home to “one of Europe’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered communities”

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After the embarrassment and scandal caused by the way Dr John was so shabbily treated on two previous occasions, I would think it likely that those making the selection will be most anxious to avoid making the same mistake again. He is said to be “strongly tipped” to be the new bishop of Durham, but even if he is not selected, it surely cannot be ltoo many years now before the Church of England ordains its first openly gay bishop - and in the meantime, we can look forward to a more welcoming, more inclusive approach in Manchester, at least. Other dioceses will surely follow that lead.

Related articles

• “Church of England diocese asks for gay-friendly bishop” (thinkinganglicans.org.uk)
• English Diocese of Manchester wants Gay-friendly Bishop (kiwianglo.wordpress.com)
• Senior Church of England bishop calls for gay marriage blessing services (telegraph.co.uk)
• Archbishop to meet LGBT Anglicans and Peter Tatchell (thinkinganglicans.org.uk)
• Anglican Archbishop Praises Gay Relationships Before Enthronement (hispanicbusiness.com)