Church of England Seeks New Archbishop After Welby Resignation

The Church of England is in the process of selecting its 106th Archbishop of Canterbury following Justin Welby's resignation due to failures in handling a significant abuse scandal linked to former camp leader John Smyth. Among the leading candidates is Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, who publicly called for Welby's resignation and has been a vocal advocate for safeguarding reforms within the Church. Other contenders include Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female Bishop of London, and Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, an Iranian-born bishop, as well as several others. The selection process will be overseen by the Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by Lord Evans of Weardale, and will involve public consultation for nominations. Welby's resignation marks the end of his more than ten-year leadership, during which he faced various challenges, including issues of inclusivity and political engagement within the Church. The new archbishop is expected to be announced later this year after a thorough evaluation and voting process among the Church's bishops and representatives.