As the Central Committee Meeting of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) is now underway in Greece, the new General Secretary of CEC has been elected. The Venerable Colin Williams, Anglican Archdeacon of Lancaster, England, was elected on 6th June, according to a press release.
Archdeacon Williams will officially take up the post in December 2005 from his predecessor, Dr. Keith Clements, who will retire at the end of November 2005 after eight years of service. He will be responsible for providing "executive leadership and strategic thinking" for a fellowship of 124 church denominations and 43 associated organisations across Europe, from his office in Geneva.
Born in 1952, Archdeacon Williams was ordained in 1981 and served in parishes in the North West of England. He has held the position of Archdeacon of Lancaster in the diocese of Blackburn since 1999. He is also a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.
Throughout the ministry of Archdeacon Williams, he has had a close relationship with Europe churches; in particular he can speak both German and French. He is the European Link Officer and Rural Officer for his diocese. He is a member of the Meissen Commission, which works towards full, visible unity between the Church of England and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).
Archdeacon Williams’ contribution in ecumenical relationships in his pastoral work was praised by the Rt Rev Ian Cundy, Bishop of Peterborough and Chairman of the Council for Christian Unity of the Church of England.
