Anglican World Body Appoints New Leader
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official3194
- Date
- 1982 November 2
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- Toronto, Nov. 02, 1982 -- For immediate release
- The Anglican Consultative Council (A.C.C.) is a representative body of bishops, clergy and laity from the 28 self-governing Provinces of the 64 million member Anglican Communion. Its tasks include planning international mission policy, ecumenical initiatives and fostering cooperation and communication amongst parts of the world-wide Anglican family.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury is President of the Council. He and its Chairman, Mr. John G. Denton, have announced the appointment of a new Secretary-General of the A.C.C. He is the Rev. Dr. Samuel Van Culin of New York City. At present Dr. Van Culin is Executive for World Mission for the Episcopal Church, U.S.A. The fifty-one year old native of Honolulu has been involved in the mission of the Church in the U.S.A. for over 20 years.
- He succeeds Bishop John Howe who is retiring after 14 years as Secretary-General.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed the appointment of Dr. Van Culin, "He is known and respected all over the world for the warmth of his friendship and the range of his abilities. He will bring to his new work a rare blend of imaginative Christian sympathies and outstanding administrative competence."
- The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop E.W. Scott noted that there had been real efforts to bring a third world person into this position. "Sam was conscious of that effort," he declared, "and wholeheartedly supported it. When it proved impossible he accepted the challenge. He brings extensive personal knowledge of all the major areas of the world. I am confident that he will do a very good job, but we in the Communion must give him adequate support for an extremely demanding task."
- In addition to his duties as chief administrative officer of the ACC, the Secretary-General is Chairman of the Council of the Anglican Centre in Rome, the focus of Anglican relations with the Vatican and Europe. He also assists the Archbishop of Canterbury in the organization and planning of meetings of the Lambeth Conference, and of separate meetings of the Primates of the Anglican Communion.
- Dr. Van Culin's appointment is the culmination of a 13 month selection process by a panel made up of representatives from Australia, East Asia, Scotland and Uganda. Laity and clergy from all over the world were considered. The final interviews and appointment were carried out by the ACC Standing Committee which also had persons from Australia, Canada, England, Tanzania, the USA and the West Indies, with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
- The appointment is effective on January 1st, 1983. Dr. Van Culin will live in London, England, but his work will take him to virtually every part of the world.
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- For further information, please contact:
- R.J. Berryman
- Media Officer
- Subjects
- Anglican Consultative Council
- Anglican Consultative Council. General Secretary
- Van Culin, Samuel, 1930-