Episcopal Press and News
Van Culin to Take Inter-Anglican Office
Episcopal News Service. October 28, 1982 [82223]
LONDON (DPS, Oct. 28) -- An American priest with a wide and deep knowledge of the Anglican communion has been named secretary general of the Anglican Consultative Council by the Council president, Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury, and chairman, John G. Denton, OBE, of Australia.
The Rev. Samuel Van Culin, executive for World Mission at the Episcopal Church Center in New York will succeed Bishop John Howe who is retiring after 14 years in the post.
The council, which was proposed by the 1968 Lambeth Conference, is a representative body of bishops, clergy and laity from the 28 self governing Provinces of the 64 million-member Anglican Communion. Its task includes planning international mission policy and ecumenical initiatives, and fostering inter-Anglican co-operation and communication.
In addition to servicing the Council, the secretary general is chairman of the Council of the Anglican Centre in Rome and assists the Archbishop of Canterbury in servicing the Meeting of Anglican Primates and the Lambeth Conference of Bishops.
The announcement of Van Culin's appointment is the culmination of a 13-month selection process. A panel, made up of representatives from Australia, East Asia, Scotland and Uganda, received nominations from all over the world and prepared and interviewed a short list. Laity as well as clergy and bishops were considered. The final interviews and appointment were undertaken by the Council's Standing Committee which was drawn from Australia, Canada, East Asia, England, Scotland, Tanzania, Uganda, the Episcopal Church and the West Indies and also includes the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, in hailing the appointment, referred to Van Culin as "someone who already seems to belong to the whole Anglican Communion rather than any one Province.
"He is known and respected all over the world for the warmth of his friendship and the range of his abilities. He will bring to his new work a rare blend of imaginative Christian sympathies and outstanding, administrative competence. I welcome his appointment and look forward to working in close harmony with him", he said.
Denton paid tribute to Howe's work of over 14 years as a "remarkable contribution to the development of mutual responsibility and partnership among the Churches of the Anglican Communion".
He said the appointment of the Council's next secretary general came at a crucial time in Communion affairs across the world. "I believe that in Dr. Van Culin the Council has appointed a man of vision, accomplishment and energy. His role will include working in close co-operation with the Churches of the Communion, and with those Churches with whom Anglicans are in dialogue".
"I am confident that all Anglicans, in every member Church, will benefit from Dr. Van Culin's ministry on behalf of us all", he added.
Van Culin, 52, has been involved in the mission work of the Church for over 20 years.
A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, he took his baccalaureate degree from Princeton University in 1952 and earned his divinity degree three years later from the Virginia Theological Seminary. The seminary awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity (h.c.) in 1976.
He began his ministry as curate at St. Andrew's Cathedral Parish, Honolulu in 1955 and was canon preceptor there from 1956-58.
From 1958-60 he was assistant rector of St. John's Church, Lafayette Square in Washington DC, USA, after which he worked as General Secretary for Laymen International and Assistant Secretary of the Overseas Mission Society of the US Church based in Washington.
He then served successively as Executive Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and World Secretary for the unit for National and World Mission at the Episcopal Church Center, New York. He was appointed to his present position in 1976 by Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin.
His present role has involved co-ordinating and ministering a wide variety of programs both in the U.S. and beyond. Through it he has established extensive links with the Churches of the Anglican Communion and ecumenical agencies.
His work has involved close contact with the work of the Council whose role he sees as "critically important" in the life and work of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, "co-ordinating, unifying and extending our work with a quality and partnership which was not possible before it was organized."
How does the Secretary General elect see his new role?
He stresses that "it is not a position of jurisdiction. It is a position of service. It is not a position of authority, it is a position of partnership and mutuality. Whatever authority it has is derived from the Archbishop of Canterbury, from the Council, the Primates and all the Churches".
He sees the role of the Council as assisting member Churches of the Anglican Communion to develop and deepen their international fellowship "in order that their life as Churches can be developed in service and witness".
The Council also shares an ecumenical task to "focus as much energy and co-operation as possible on the task of seeking the unity of the Universal Church, which is God's will".
He will take over officially on Jan. 1, 1983.