Sentamu tipped to head Anglican church
Dr Sentamu, the Archbishop of York
Posted Sunday, March 18 2012 at 00:00
In Summary
It would be a monumental feat for Dr Sentamu, 62, becoming the first black religious head of the Church of England as Archbishop of Canterbury and symbolic head of the 85 million strong Anglican Communion.
Dr Sentamu is currently the second most senior cleric in the Church of England after Dr Williams.
kampala. The government and the Anglican Church in Uganda are thrilled by news that Ugandan John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, could succeed Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the head of the Church of England.
Archbishop Williams announced on Friday that he would step down as the spiritual head of the Anglican Church at the end of December.
The Guardian newspaper reported on Friday that Dr Williams, 61, is resigning after a decade at the helm, to take on a new role in the academia. in January 2013 at Cambridge University as Master of Magdalene College.
Church of Uganda (CoU) said the appointment of Dr Sentamu would be “exciting”, and one that would herald a new dawn of hope for the African continent.
“That would be exciting and good for this country,” said the Rev. Canon George Bagamuhunda, provincial secretary CoU, speaking on behalf of the head of the Anglican Church in Uganda, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who is away on leave. “I believe he would be a good advocate of the issues that concern Africa. He has been speaking on behalf of the voiceless and if he could maintain that, that will be good.”
Delighted Karoro
Meanwhile the government greeted the news with delight describing it as a “remarkable development”. Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut commented: “This is a moment of truth for Uganda and Africa.” She added: “The church is currently grappling with divisions, we pray that our son of the soil addresses these issues.”
In a statement issued on his website on Friday, Dr Sentamu said he had received news of Dr. William’s resignation “with great sadness” but added: “Our partnership in the gospel over the past six years has been the most creative period of my ministry.”
“The bookmakers’ favourite to succeed [Dr William] is the Ugandan-born archbishop of York, John Sentamu, whose energy is widely admired, but who has upset some with a reputed forceful manner,” the Guardian said.
Another leading pastor of Church of Uganda who, declined to be named, said: “We shall pray for them to choose within their own structures the best successor but it is not for us to decide who gets.”
Dr Sentamu is not canonically a member of the Church of Uganda.
It would be a monumental feat for Dr Sentamu, 62, if appointed, becoming the first black religious head of the Church of England as Archbishop of Canterbury and symbolic head of the 85 million strong Anglican Communion.
Dr Sentamu is currently the second most senior cleric in the Church of England after Dr Williams.
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