(In the context of all the discussion about Dr Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, people have asked me about archbishops. Here is a brief answer--P.T.)
The word "archbishop" does not occur in the New Testament but the word bishop (Greek, episcopos, bishop/pastor/overseer) does. An Archbishop (Greek, arche [chief] & episcopos, thus senior bishop) is a senior shepherd under Christ Jesus, the good Shepherd of the flock. He is addressed as "His Grace" and "Most Reverend."
A Bishop is distinct from presbyters/priests in that he confers Holy Orders, administers Confirmation and is a pastor of a diocese. The identity and vocation is set out inside the Prayer Book in The Ordinal (1662 & 1928 etc.) which contains the service of ordination & consecration
An Archbishop is a bishop to whom a greater administrative responsibility is given; he is not a superior form of clergy. One of his tasks is to preside at the ordination and consecration of new bishops while another is to preside at Synods and represent the Province in the wider Church.
Most of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion have an Archbishop but a few have a "Presiding Bishop" or in the case of united churches of India and Pakistan a "Moderator."
Where there is no history of monarchy or where monarchy is rejected in the land then the title of "Presiding Bishop" is normally used by the local Church (as in the USA).
In most of the Provinces the position of "Archbishop" or "Presiding Bishop" is not tied to certain particular dioceses, but it is so in Australia and in England ( here to Canterbury and York).
In most of the Provinces the office of "Archbishop" or "Presiding Bishop" is an elected office, either by fellow bishops, or in Australia by a diocesan synod. Only in England is it a Crown appointment on the advice of the General Synod.
In virtually all of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion the "Archbishop" or "Presiding Bishop" is always a diocesan bishop (e.g., in England, the two Archbishops have the dioceses of Canterbury and York). Yet in a few places, primarily the Episcopal Church of the USA, the Presiding Bishop has no diocese but works from an office of "the national church" in New York City.
The Archbishop or the Presiding Bishop of a Province is the Primate of that Province but where as in Australia and England there are two or more Archbishops then only one is regarded as the Primate - in England, always the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in Australia by election by the archbishops (of Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne etc.).
The President of the Primates' Meeting (38 members) is always the Archbishop of Canterbury for his See is regarded by all as "the instrument of unity" of both the Church of England & of the Anglican Communion of Churches. To be in communion with that See is the test of whether or not a Province is in the Anglican Communion (thus Continuing Anglican Churches, with their several Archbishops are not in the Communion even though they have Anglican characteristics).
The Archbishop of Canterbury is styled "Primate of all England" and ranks immediately after the royal family, with the Lord Chancellor coming next in order. He has to be a British citizen and ordained in Britain.
The Revd Dr. Peter Toon July 27th 2002
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