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Archbishop of York steps down
Archbishop of York Dr. David Hope, the Church of England's second-most senior clergyman, said Sunday he had resigned his post to become a parish priest. Hope, who was archbishop for nine years, steps down in February to become vicar of St. Margaret's in the small town of Ilkey, northern England in March. "I'm very much looking forward to this new appointment," said Hope, 64, after a service at his new parish. "I have always hoped that it might be possible to conclude my ministry as I had begun it as a parish priest and this I believe to be the call of God."Hope's announcement comes as the church continues to struggle through the debate over the place for gay clergy — an issue that has threatened to split the community. The traditionalist Hope was often seen as a counterweight to his superior, the more liberal Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. Last month, Hope told the General Synod meeting that the church must not be "overwhelmed" by the debate on gay issues and should instead concentrate on the "mission" of the Anglican faith. Posted by: Fred 2004-08-01 |
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