The Vacancy in See Committee is a statutory committee, which has a permanent existence but only meets during a vacancy in see, i.e. when there is a vacancy in the diocesan bishopric.
The role of the Vacancy in See Committee is: to prepare a brief description of the Diocese and a statement setting out the desired profile of the new Bishop and to elect the diocesan representatives to the Crown Nominations Commission.
Key Dates
Tuesday 19 March The Vacancy in See committee meets.
Thursday 18 April The Vacancy in See committee meets and will elect its 6 CNC members.
Monday 15 April A public online consultation hosted via zoom with +Sarah chairing, and with the Archbishops' Appointments Secretary (Stephen Knott) and the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary (Jonathan Hellewell) in attendance.
Consultation
People were invited to contribute to the appointment process through an online survey and online public consultation Zoom meeting.
Who are the members of the Vacancy in See Committee?
The Vacancy in See Committee has a mixture of ex officio, nominated and elected members as follows:
- The Right Reverend Sarah Clark – Chair (ex officio as Bishop of Jarrow)
- The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming (ex officio as Dean of Durham)
- The Venerable Libby Wilkinson (ex officio as one of two Archdeacons elected by and from the Archdeacons)
- The Venerable Rick Simpson (ex officio as one of two Archdeacons elected by and from the Archdeacons)
- The Venerable Bob Cooper (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
- The Reverend Mark Mawhinney (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
- The Reverend Mark Miller (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
- The Reverend Chantal Noppen (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
- The Reverend Canon Dave Tolhurst (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
- Mr Ali Bianchi (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
- Dr Angus Goudie (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod
- Canon Dr Jamie Harrison (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
- Mrs Helen Smith (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
- The Reverend Canon Steph Clark (ex officio as Chair of the House of Clergy of Diocesan Synod)
- Mrs Frances Stenlake (ex officio as Chair of the House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
- The Reverend Paul Neville (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
- The Reverend Matt Tarling (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
- Canon Margaret Vaughan (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
- Mr Paul Hobbs (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
- Mr James Hall (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
- The Reverend Mary Yasini (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
- Mrs Val Barron (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
- Mrs Susan Brown (nominated by Bishop’s Council)