The Right Reverend Anthony Ball, Chair of JMECA and Bishop of the Diocese of North Africa in the Province of Alexandria, has been appointed Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See.
The Anglican Centre in Rome is the permanent Anglican Communion presence in Rome. It embodies the Anglican Communion’s commitment to the full visible unity of the Church, with a particular focus on building trusted relationships with the Roman Catholic Church and advancing shared ecumenical priorities. As Director, Bishop Anthony will lead the centre, playing a key role in the interface between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.
Bishop Anthony was ordained whilst he was still a diplomat, and so has invaluable experience to offer the new post. He had overseas postings in the Middle East and Spain. During a posting with the British Embassy in Damascus, he was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Heads of the Orthodox Churches in Syria and Lebanon. From there he moved to join Archbishop Rowan Williams's staff at Lambeth Palace where he variously held responsibility for advising on Anglican Communion, Ecumenical, Inter Religious and International relations before serving as the Archbishop's Chaplain
Bishop Anthony will also play a major role as a public face of Anglican ecumenical commitment, liaising with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Unity, Faith and Order team at the Anglican Communion Office.
He said,
It is an extraordinary privilege to be offered this opportunity to serve the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the cause of Christian unity. As a long-time supporter of the Anglican Centre in Rome I am hugely excited at the prospect of contributing to its leadership and building on the work of Archbishop Ian Ernest and his predecessors. I look forward to developing further the connections and collaboration with institutions, organisations and all those, within our Communion and beyond, committed to education, pilgrimage, encounter and deepening mutual understanding.
JMECA Director John Clark said:
Our warm congratulations to Bishop Anthony on this significant appointment to which he will bring his many years of experience of the Middle East and its Churches into his new role. And our gratitude for all he has contributed to the development of the Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association.
Bishop Anthony is expected to take up his new role next Summer.
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