Hashtags, prayers as Church of England chooses leader - Bangkok Post

The Church of England has urged followers to tweet their thoughts using the hashtag #prayforthecnc as a committee holds its final meeting at a secret location to choose the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams steps down in December this year. The Crown Nominations Committee (CNC) is due to finalise its choice of new leader on Thursday, to be publicly announced next week, and the church has published a special prayer for the committee on its website.

The Crown Nominations Committee (CNC) is due to finalise its choice of new leader on Thursday, to be publicly announced next week, and the church has published a special prayer for the committee on its website.

Clergy from around the world tweeted their support for the process to choose a successor to Rowan Williams as spiritual head of the world's Anglicans, while church followers contributed their thoughts.

"If you are so inclined, please #PrayForTheCNC to choose a non-homophobic archbishop of Canterbury," posted one user under the name Fanny Mbongo.

"Why not nominate #ABC (Archbishop of Canterbury) from the rest of the anglican communion? Desmond Tutu would be my vote (if i had one) #Desmond4ABC #prayforthecnc," tweeted another, called Gemma Hentsch, referring to the retired ex-Archbishop of Cape Town and anti-apartheid activist.

The Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, and Bishop of Durham Justin Welby are seen as top contenders for the tough role, along with Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.

Williams is to step down at the end of the year after a decade of turmoil within the Anglican communion, including over the issue of openly gay bishops in the United States.

But some questioned the process by which his successor is being chosen.

"Our Bishops & Archbishops ought to be elected. Better than this behind closed doors committee stuff," tweeted outspoken priest Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral last year over plans to forcibly remove Occupy London protesters.