Robert Innes (bishop)
Robert Innes | |
|---|---|
| Bishop in Europe | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese in Europe |
| In office | 2014–present |
| Predecessor | Geoffrey Rowell |
| Other post(s) | Senior Chaplain and Chancellor of Holy Trinity, Brussels (2005–2014) Chaplain to the Queen (2012–2014) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1995 (deacon) 1996 (priest) by Michael Turnbull |
| Consecration | 20 July 2014 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Neil Innes 1959 (age 64–65) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Waterloo, Belgium |
| Spouse | Helen Innes
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Bishop |
| Alma mater | King's College, Cambridge |
Robert Neil Innes (born 11th October 1959) is an Anglican bishop. Since 2014, he has been the Bishop in Europe. Prior to becoming bishop he was Chancellor and Senior Chaplain of the Pro-Cathedral of Holy Trinity Brussels.
Early life and education[edit]
Innes was born in Wolverhampton. He lived in the Netherlands briefly before moving to Woking, Surrey. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, and studied engineering at King's College Cambridge University, gaining his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1982. He worked in the electric power industry, then Arthur Andersen Management Consultants (now Accenture) until 1989 when he went to train for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall, Durham, whence he gained a further BA (in Theology) in 1991 and his doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD) from Durham University in 1995.[1] His doctoral thesis was titled "Strategies for securing the unity of the self in Augustine and certain modern psychologists".[2]
Ordained ministry[edit]
Following the conclusion of his doctoral studies, Innes was made a deacon at Petertide (2 July) 1995, by Michael Turnbull, Bishop of Durham, at Durham Cathedral.[3] He was ordained a priest the next year. He became a lecturer in systematic theology at St John's College, Durham (of which Cranmer Hall is a part), while serving two titles/curacies. He was ordained to the title of St Cuthbert's Church, Durham[3][4] and then served a curacy at Sherburn, Pittington and Shadforth from 1997. In 1999 he was appointed as vicar of St Mary Magdalene Church in Belmont.[5]
Innes moved to Brussels in 2005 to become Chancellor and Senior Chaplain of Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral, Brussels. He was an Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands from 2007. He was made President of the Central Committee for the Anglican Church in Belgium in 2009 and became President of the ecumenical Belgian Consultation of Christian Churches in 2012. He was appointed a Chaplain to the Late Queen Elizabeth II (an honorary post) in 2012.
He chaired the Board of Grove Books Limited from 2000 and convened the Grove Ethical Studies Editorial Group from 1999-2007.
Episcopal Ministry[edit]
Innes was appointed Bishop in Europe in 2014; he was consecrated as a bishop on 20 July 2014 at Canterbury Cathedral by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury (with co-consecrators Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester) and installed at Gibraltar Cathedral on 4 September 2014. He was subsequently installed in the Pro-Cathedrals of Malta and Brussels. His office is in Brussels.
Innes was appointed Chair of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission in 2022. In that capacity, he is also a member of the House of Bishops' Standing Committee. He represents the Archbishop of Canterbury with the European Institutions. He is the co-chair of the Reuilly Ecumenical Conversations between the Church of England and the French Protestant Church. He is also a member of the Clergy Discipline Commission.
In 2024 he was appointed the Anglican Co-Chair of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARRCUM).
Since 2018, he has been the President of the Council of St. John's College, Durham.
Views[edit]
Innes condemned the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has persistently urged all Christians to unite in prayers for peace.[6][7]
He is a supporter of the European project and spoke and wrote widely regarding his concerns about Brexit and its effects on Europe as a whole and on UK Nationals living in the Diocese in Europe . He is concerned for the unity of the worldwide church in a fragmented and conflictual world.[8]
He abstained during a vote on introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.[9][10]
Publications[edit]
Clergy in a Complex Age: Responses to the Guildelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy Ed. with Jamie Harrison (2016)
'The Anglican Tradition and the Belgian Government' in Ed. de Pooter (2012)
'Augustine and the Journey to Wholeness' Journal of Augustinian Studies and Grove Books (2004)
'Rebuilding Trust in Healthcare' Ed with Jamie Harrison and Tim Van Zwanenberg (2003)
'Discourses of the Self' (1999)
'Personality Indicators and the Spiritual Life' Grove (1996)
'Responding to the Ukraine-Russia War,’ Grove (2023)
Personal life[edit]
Innes married in 1985 and has four children.[1] He enjoys walking and trekking.
Styles[edit]
- The Reverend Doctor Robert Innes (1995–2005)
- The Reverend Canon Doctor Robert Innes (2005–2014)
- The Right Reverend Doctor Robert Innes (2014–present)
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Innes, Robert Neil". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 25 June 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Innes, Robert Neil (1995). "Strategies for securing the unity of the self in Augustine and certain modern psychologists". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6908. 7 July 1995. p. 7. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 25 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Robert Neil Innes". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Diocese in Europe – New Diocesan Bishop Appointed (Archived 29 November 2014; accessed 22 December 2015)
- ^ "Anglican Bishop in Europe condemns "unjustified and aggressive" war in Ukraine". 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Prayers Across Europe for Peace in Ukraine | Diocese in Europe". www.europe.anglican.org. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Brexit: A European Choice". www.holytrinityutrecht.nl. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.
- ^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
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