Who would want to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury? It’s an impossible job

As Justin Welby lays down his bishop’s crozier, George Pitcher takes a stab at writing a job description for the next Archbishop of Canterbury

In the back of the Church of England’s trade paper, Church Times, there’s a thriving classified ads section for clergy jobs, a veritable atlas of urban and rural ministries from Cumbria to Kent.

These churches list what they’re “praying for” their new rector or vicar to be. Invariably they want someone with ‘vision’ and ‘grace’, a good preacher who is also committed to pastoral care. Often, they seek an incumbent with a “sense of humour”, who can oversee “strategic growth”, offering leadership while also (and this crops up all the time) being ‘joyful’ They demand a ‘shepherd’ and a “team player” who is ‘inspirational’ and can deliver a range of varied worship styles over a number of churches in a ‘challenging’ parish.

One wonders whether St Paul would make it through any of the interviews.