Secretary General of the Anglican Communion
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| Secretary General of the Anglican Communion | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1968 |
| First holder | Ralph Dean[2] |
| Deputy | Rt. Rev. Jo Bailey Wells[3] |
| Website | Anglican Communion Office |
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion is the chief administrative officer of the Anglican Communion, which encompasses over 85 million Anglicans in more than 165 countries.[4]
The Secretary General heads the Anglican Communion's secretariat, based at St Andrew’s House in London, UK. The role involves overseeing the administrative aspects of the Communion's operations, including:[5]
- Managing the preparation and execution of meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primates' Meeting, and the Lambeth Conference.
- Supporting the Communion's engagement with the United Nations and other ecumenical and international bodies.
- Facilitating communication and collaboration among the various member churches of the Anglican Communion.
History
The position of Secretary General was established following the creation of the Anglican Consultative Council at the Lambeth Conference in 1968. Before this, the role was known as the "Executive Officer of the Anglican Communion."[6] The first Secretary General was Ralph Dean, who served from 1969 to 1971.[7]
List of Secretaries General
| Secretary General | Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Ralph Dean | 1969–1971[7] |
| John Howe | 1971–1982[8] |
| Sam Van Culin | 1982–1994 |
| John Peterson | 1994–2004 |
| Kenneth Kearon | 2005–2015 |
| Josiah Idowu-Fearon | 2015–2022[9] |
| Anthony Poggo | 2022–present |
Selection
The Secretary General is appointed by the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council, which acts on behalf of the entire Communion's leadership.[5]
