ONE of the Most Revd Justin Welby’s priorities as Archbishop of Canterbury was the strengthening of links between the member Churches of the Anglican Communion. Among other proposed changes, he advocated a wider Communion representation on the Crown Nominations Commission that will choose his successor. There will now be five representatives rather than one. In the future, a revolving presidency may be instituted, and there may be a separation between that position and the office of Archbishop of Canterbury (News, 3 January). Such changes, if they take place, will inevitably require an increase in centralising bureaucracy.

I have never been drawn to the view that “Anglicanism” is a global brand. It seems obvious to me that the more the Communion seeks unity, the more painful are the divisions exposed. I was at the 1998 Lambeth Conference. I remember being struck by a comment from a fellow participant that only a skilled social anthropologist could hope to navigate the choppy waters of cultural and theological difference present on the Canterbury university campus.

There really is no way to reconcile liberal and conservative views over same-sex marriage; and, in working out why, an often ignored fact of Anglican polity needs to be considered. The Church of England is an established Church with a duty to serve and uphold the State. The Churches of the Communion inherit, if not establishment, a sense of duty to pray for the powers-that-be and relate positively to the laws, culture, and expectations of the very different societies in which they are set. Commonwealth countries pray for the monarch; the US Episcopal Church prays for the President. All that truly holds the Communion together are scripture, liturgical worship, and the threefold order of ministry.

It’s obvious, really, that, if you live in a country where gay sex is illegal, you will be rather less likely to approve same-sex relationships than if you live in a country that permits same-sex marriage. Context matters, and it is surely Anglican polity to take the State seriously. Yes, there is a place for prophetic witness, but people from contexts other than yours cannot insist on this on your behalf. Recognising different contexts is more important than trying to create doctrinal uniformity. Anglicanism is a federation of Churches, not a global Church. There is no Anglican pope.

In March 2012, in spite of huge pressure from Archbishop Rowan Williams and 80 per cent of its bishops, the Church of England refused to ratify the covenant that would have disciplined liberal Churches in the US and Canada. The truth is that most C of E layfolk have little interest in the Anglican Communion. On the other hand, what they want from a new Archbishop of Canterbury is a prayerful priest who can engage with the nation and who cares about the lives of ordinary people. Global jet-setters need not apply.