CAPTION: There will be a farewell service for Bishop Robert on 17 September
Step by Step Guide to Appointing the Next Bishop of Exeter
With Bishop Robert’s retirement planned for the end of September, a discernment process is already underway to find the next Bishop of Exeter.
The process is being overseen by the Diocese of Exeter’s Vacancy in See Committee. See is from the Latin term for “seat” and historically refers to the bishop’s throne, i.e. centre of authority and jurisdiction, which for hundreds of years has been in Exeter.
The committee is a standing committee of the Exeter Diocesan Synod, but only becomes active when the retirement of a diocesan bishop is announced.
Anne Foreman is Chair of the Vacancy in See Committee
It is made up of around 30 people, including the diocese’s General Synod representatives, the Chairs of the House of Clergy and House of Laity, the Bishops of Crediton and Plymouth and elected lay and clergy representatives from across Devon. Exeter’s MP Ben Bradshaw was also nominated by the Bishop’s Diocesan Council to be on the committee.
The committee has two tasks – to write a Statement of Needs for the diocese (a document similar to a parish profile) and to elect six of its members to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC).
The CNC is a national Church of England body, which will be responsible for compiling a shortlist of candidates and discerning which nominee should be recommended to the King and Downing Street to be the next Bishop of Exeter.
Bishop Jackie will be Acting Bishop of Exeter from 1 October
Anne Foreman is Chair of the Vacancy in See Committee. She said “The Statement of Needs is [an illustrated document] saying what the Diocese of Exeter is like, what the challenges it faces are and what people hope the new bishop might be able to bring to it.”
Anne said she was hoping to hear from people across Devon about what qualities they would like to see in a new diocesan bishop: “The Ordinal* says a bishop should know their people and be known by them, so for people in Devon to say what they think and about what they hope for a new bishop would be really good.”
To that end, an online consultation survey will be launched on Tuesday 4 July. This will be an opportunity for anyone share their views and aspirations about the appointment of the new bishop. The responses will help inform the Statement of Needs.
The Bishop of Exeter’s throne in Exeter Cathedral is a symbol of his or her authority
Anne said her message to the prospective candidates to be the new Bishop of Exeter would be “Come and join with us and help us to continue being the sort of diocese that is inclusive, that has room for all sorts of different views and help us continue in that way.”
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle, will be Acting Bishop of Exeter from October 1 2023, as well as continuing her duties as Bishop of Crediton.
Anne Foreman added “One thing to remember is that we are not choosing a new bishop, we are trying to discern who God is calling to do this role.
“Please pray for the Vacancy in See Committee, pray that we make the right decisions, that we listen carefully to what people are saying and that we are really careful and thoughtful about what we are doing.
“It is a big responsibility, but it is a joy as well.”
*The Ordinal of the Church of England is the wording used to ordain new deacons and priests and to consecrate bishops.
Timeline to Appoint the Next Bishop of Exeter
| Date | Event |
| Tuesday 4 July | Online consultation survey goes live |
| July and August | Listening consultation to inform Statement of Needs |
| Sunday 17 September | Farewell service for Bishop Robert at Exeter Cathedral |
| Tuesday 19 September | Public meeting for Crown Nominations Commission representatives to hear views |
| February 2024 | Shortlisting of nominated candidates |
| April 2024 | Interviews |
| Summer 2024 (date to be confirmed) | New Bishop of Exeter announced |
| Date to be confirmed | New Bishop installed at Exeter Cathedral |
