Nolo episcopari

The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Durham met and nominated a candidate for the See of Durham, which is one of those whose bishop is a Lord Spiritual ex officio. On Monday, the CNC announced that the candidate decided to “withdraw from the nomination”. Having decided in November not to nominate a reserve candidate, the CNC has now agreed to reconvene later in the year to continue the process of discernment. The CNC meetings currently planned are listed on the website of Peter Owen. 

There is an urban myth that it was customary and decorous for any candidate for a bishopric to decline the office twice by use of the expression nolo episcopari, and only a third use of which would indicate a true intention of refusal. In our report in November 2024, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek was quoted as saying, “Anyone who wants to be the Archbishop of Canterbury absolutely needs their head reading”. Since then, this sentiment has been echoed by other bishops.

Religious male circumcision

On 6 February, Lord Scriven (Lib Dem) tabled the question: Continue reading →