The Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, now serving as Provost Theologian and Ming Hua College in Hong Kong and Research Professor at the Institut für Christkatholische Theologie at the University of Bern, has been appointed Canon Theologian in the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe for a two-year term, commencing on Advent Sunday, 2024.
Announcing the appointment, The Right Reverend Mark Edington, Bishop in Charge of the Convocation, took note of Percy’s extensive contributions to churches across the Anglican Communion.
“Martyn Percy is one of the foremost practical theologians in contemporary Anglicanism,” Bishop Edington said. “His many writings have addressed directly and helpfully the challenges of faith in contemporary society, and have posed questions demanding our prayerful attention about the institutional arrogance of the churches we have created—and can change.”
Percy served as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford from 2014 to 2022, the first person to be democratically elected to the only post in the Church of England that is both an academic and a cathedral post. Prior to his election, he served as the principal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon from 2004 to 2014. Peter Cornwell, writing in The Times Literary Supplement, has characterized Percy’s writings as “making peace between competing communities of conviction.”
Accepting the appointment, the Revd. Professor Martyn Percy said, “I am deeply honored, humbled and profoundly touched by this invitation to serve the congregations and communities of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe over the coming years. This is an especially demanding time for Christianity (indeed, all faiths) across Europe, and Episcopalians have very particular gifts and insights that can contribute positively and perceptively in addressing those challenges. I greatly look forward to working with the laity and the clergy of the Convocation in encouraging us all to serve the world with renewed confidence, care and Christian commitment, as well as developing our theological wisdom as we worship, learn and walk together.”
Percy’s extensive bibliography includes the forthcoming The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery, and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, January 2025); An Advent Manifesto: Daily Readings and Reflections from Isaiah and Luke (Bible Reading Fellowship, 2023); Psalms and Songs of Solace (Bloomsbury, 2024); The Humble Church: Renewing the Body of Christ (Canterbury Press, 2021); The Precarious Church: Redeeming the Body of Christ (Canterbury Press, 2023); and Clergy: The Origin of Species (Bloomsbury Academic, 2006).
As Canon Theologian, Percy will offer formation to the Convocation’s clergy and the wider church of the Convocation through preaching and retreats. He will also advise Bishop Edington on the formation process for ordinands and newly ordained clergy in the Convocation.
The Reverend Canon Martyn Percy, newly appointed Canon Theologian of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.
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