John Sentamu to become Chair of Christian Aid

It has been announced that the Right Revd and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu will become the next Chair of the Board of international development agency, Christian Aid. Dr Sentamu was Anglican Bishop of Birmingham between 2002 and 2005 and Archbishop of York from 2005 to 2020. On 27 April 2021, he was created Baron Sentamu of Lindisfarne in the County of Northumberland and of Masooli in the Republic of Uganda.

Dr Sentamu’s appointment is the result of a global external search led by the Chair of Christian Aid’s nominations committee, Jennifer Cormack. Dr Sentamu will be the first person of African heritage to be Chair of Christian Aid in its 75-year history. Dr Sentamu will succeed Christian Aid’s current Chair, the Right Revd Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, who will stand down at CA’s AGM in November 2021, having served two terms of office.

Speaking about the appointment of Dr John Sentamu, Christian Aid’s CEO Amanda Khozi Mukwashi said, ‘This is wonderful news for Christian Aid. Dr Sentamu brings with him a passion and energy for global justice, a deep love of the Church and a profound theological understanding that will be able to speak into the crises of climate change, Covid, conflict and debt that are affecting the world’s poorest communities. We look forward to welcoming him to the Christian Aid family. I want to express my immense gratitude to Dr Williams for his friendship and leadership. He has been an incredible Chair, bringing his inimitable wisdom, grace and prophetic voice to support Christian Aid’s work and the communities we serve. We will miss him.’

Dr Williams commented, ‘It has been a profound privilege to serve as Chair of this wonderful organisation for the past eight years. Through that time, we have appointed an excellent new CEO, launched a new global strategy and weathered the storms of a global pandemic, while continuing to stand together with the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. Christian Aid’s work is far from being done, and the next few years will mean we must stand even more firmly for the dignity, equality and justice of all, needing the support of the Church and the British public more than ever, in light of cuts to aid and increasing national self-interest. I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Dr Sentamu at this pivotal time in the organisation’s history and convinced there are few people who will be able to lead and speak out with the moral voice that is needed for such a time as this. I will continue to support both him and the organisation in the ongoing fight to end global poverty.’

Speaking about his appointment, Dr Sentamu said, ‘It is a great surprise and a delight to be invited to be a trustee and to chair the Board of Christian Aid. My first involvement with Christian Aid was in 1980, during Christian Aid Week, when, as an Assistant Curate at St Andrew, Ham Common, and Prison Chaplain at Latchmere House Remand Centre, I knocked on doors and left Christian Aid envelopes. The staggering response from the long street where I lived, as well as the prison officers, convinced me that the appeal for ‘Life Before Death’ spoke to the generous hearts of my neighbours. To chair the Christian Aid Board, which is deeply committed to eradicating injustice, disadvantage, increasing mutual accountability and its prophetic voice in addressing issues of poverty and power, is a great honour and challenge for me. Please pray for me.’

Read the official announcement of Dr John Sentamu’s appointment via THIS LINK.