The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) considers vacancies in Diocesan Bishoprics in the Provinces of Canterbury and York, and candidates for appointments to them.
Under the Standing Orders of the General Synod, a nomination cannot be made to the Crown to fill a vacant see unless it has received the support of at least two-thirds of the total number of the voting members of the Commission (10 out of 14) in a secret ballot.
The voting members of the CNC for a vacant see are the two Archbishops (or a Diocesan Bishop acting on their behalf), 6 members elected from the Vacancy in See Committee of the Diocese and 6 ‘Central Members’ elected from the General Synod. The Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments and the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary are non-voting members of the Commission.
Archbishops' Advisers for Appointments and Vocations
The Archbishops’ Advisers for Appointments and Vocations team is a key team within the Office of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, supporting and advising the Archbishops and the wider Church on the appointments process for senior clergy. The team supports the work of the Commission in identifying new Diocesan Bishops, those involved in appointing Suffragan Bishops, and the selection panels who nominate new cathedral Deans.
The team supports senior clergy in their vocation and discernment, working closely with the Ministry Development team and others to develop a diverse pipeline of candidates for senior roles. The team also helps to ensure that senior clergy are equipped for the Church of England’s missional challenges and for the vital role it plays in the life of the nation.