Stephen Venner

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The Right Reverend

Stephen Venner
Bishop of Dover
Stephen Venner, Bishop of Dover, at the Blessing of the Waters, Whitstable, 2006.jpg
Diocese Canterbury
In office1999 – November 2009
Predecessor Richard Llewellin
Successor Trevor Willmott
Other post(s) Bishop of Middleton (1994–1999)
Bishop for the Falkland Islands (2007–2014)
Bishop to the Forces (2009–2014)
Orders
Ordination1968
Consecration2 February 1994
Personal details
Born (1944-06-19) 19 June 1944 (age 77)
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom [1]
Nationality British
Denomination Anglican
SpouseJudy [2]
ProfessionBishop and former teacher
Alma mater University of Birmingham

Stephen Venner DL (born 19 June 1944) [1] was Bishop of Dover (the bishop with delegated responsibility for the Diocese of Canterbury) from 1999 until 2009. He was also Bishop for the Falkland Islands from 2007 and Bishop to the Forces from 2009 until his retirement from both posts in 2014.

Contents

Education and career

Birmingham University Aston Webb001.JPG
Birmingham University

Venner studied English at the University of Birmingham and is a qualified teacher. [2] He later studied theology at St Stephen's House, Oxford and Linacre College, Oxford (since St Stephen's House did not at the time have the status of a Permanent Private Hall), before spending 26 years as a priest across various parishes in the dioceses of Southwark and Salisbury. In 1989, Venner was appointed canon and prebendary at Salisbury Cathedral. [1]

Venner was consecrated as a bishop by John Habgood, Archbishop of York, on 2 February 1994 at York Minster [3] and installed as Bishop of Middleton in the Diocese of Manchester. He served in this position until 1999 when he became the Bishop of Dover in the Diocese of Canterbury. As Bishop of Dover, Venner was also, in practice, the acting diocesan bishop for the Diocese of Canterbury, acting on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury — this role was recognised in his additional title of "Bishop in Canterbury".

While Bishop of Dover, Venner was also appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury's "Episcopal Commissary for the Falkland Islands" or "Bishop for the Falkland Islands" on 16 January 2007 — he remains in this separate appointment despite his departure from Canterbury. In 2008, the University of Birmingham (his alma mater) awarded him his first honorary doctorate — a Doctor of Divinity degree. [4] Venner was also the first [5] Pro-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University from 2005 [2] (while he was Bishop in Canterbury) and, in 2010, that university bestowed an honorary doctorate (Doctor of the University) upon him. [6]

It was announced in early 2009 that Venner would retire in November that year. [2] It was then announced in July 2009 that Venner would take up an appointment as Bishop to the Forces (who has pastoral oversight over and responsibility for the church's work in the British Armed Forces) while retaining his additional role as Bishop for the Falklands. As of 2012, Venner is also an honorary assistant bishop in the dioceses of Rochester and in Europe. [7] [8]

Taliban controversy

In an interview [9] published on 14 December 2009, Venner was quoted as saying some of the methods of combat used by the Taliban in Afghanistan (potentially including those to kill British troops) are not honourable or acceptable. He also said "there’s a large number of things that the Taliban say and stand for which none of us in the West could approve, but simply to say therefore that everything they do is bad is not helping the situation. The Taliban can perhaps be admired for their conviction to their faith and their sense of loyalty to each other". After receiving criticism, Venner issued a qualifying statement, [10] [11] in which he repudiated any respect for Taliban tactics.

Styles and titles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Debrett's People of Today — Stephen Venner Archived 3 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 4 This is Kent — Bishop of Dover to retire
  3. ↑ "Briefly" . Church Times (#6834). 4 February 1994. p. 2. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 21 February 2016– via UK Press Online archives.
  4. ↑ http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/senate/honorary-graduates-since-2000.pdf
  5. ↑ Birmingham University — Honorary Graduands...
  6. ↑ Canterbury Christ Church University — Bishop Stephen Venner awarded first Christ Church honorary degree Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ RUSI – Faith Under Fire, retrieved 19 June 2012
  8. ↑ Canterbury diocesan news – June 2011 Archived 14 April 2013 at archive.today , retrieved 19 June 2012
  9. ↑ Daily Telegraph — Taliban 'can be admired'...
  10. ↑ Daily Telegraph — Armed Forces Bishop apologises for Taliban comments
  11. ↑ Church of England — Statement from Venner
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Donald Tytler 		Bishop of Middleton
1994–1999		Succeeded by
Michael Lewis
Preceded by
Richard Llewellin 		Bishop of Dover
1999–2009		Succeeded by
Trevor Willmott
New title Bishop for the Falkland Islands
2007–2014		Succeeded by
Nigel Stock
Preceded by
David Conner 		Bishop to the Forces
2009–2014
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