 The qualities needed by the next archbishop were discussed |
Women clergy and gay people should be warmly welcomed by the next Archbishop of York, a public meeting has heard. The meeting, at Bishopthorpe Palace on the outskirts of York, gathered views as part of the selection process for the next primate.
The current archbishop, Dr David Hope is stepping down in February to work as a parish priest in Ilkley.
Around 50 people were at the meeting to put their views to representatives from the church and prime minister's office.
Clean sheet
Martin Sheppard, the spokesman for the Diocese of York said the meeting started with a "clean sheet of paper" inviting whatever topics the audience wanted to raise.
He said a number of people want the new archbishop to support women's ministry and to work "with compassion and integrity" on the subject of homosexuality.
"We had a good spread of both age and geography, with no voices of dissent to any of the points raised.
"One young student said the new archbishop should be aware of the real day-to-day issues or morality that affect the younger generation," he added.
The Prime Minister's Secretary for Appointments, William Chapman, and the Archbishops' Appointment Secretary, Caroline Boddington, were at the meeting.
One-Minute World News 
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