From the Revd Dr Richard Sturch
Sir, - If the Crown Nominations Commission could not decide for
themselves on the best candidate for the see of Oxford (News
and Letters, 22
May), why did they not follow the example of the Apostles (used
twice in recent lectionary readings) and draw lots, prayerfully, to
decide between what one presumes were all, like Matthias and
Barsabbas, reasonably qualified for the task?
RICHARD STURCH
35 Broomfield,
Stacey Bushes,
Milton Keynes MK12 6HA
From Mr Paul Clifford
Sir, - Don Manley (Letters, 22
May) searches for reasons that the Crown Nominations Commission
was unable to agree on the next Bishop of Oxford. However, the real
failure is the extraordinary dilatoriness that has characterised
the entire process.
The previous Bishop gave the required six months' notice and
retired at the end of last October. It took a further eight months
for the Commission to meet, and it will now be another ten months
before it can reconvene to resume the search.
It is quite possible that this supposedly key post will remain
unfilled for more than two years. And this in itself raises a
question: if the Church of England is content for this to be the
case, why do we need 43 diocesan bishops anyway?
PAUL CLIFFORD,
Michaelmas Cottage,
Bletchingdon Road,
Kirtlington OX5 3HF