[Anglican Communion Office] The Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan will serve as interim secretary general for the Anglican Communion, according to an announcement from the Rt. Rev. James Tengatenga and Elizabeth Paver, chair and vice chair of the Standing Committee.

Barnett-Cowan, who will retire at the end of January as director for Unity, Faith and Order, has agreed to be a half-time consultant for the position until the position of secretary general has been filled. She will be based at her home in Canada but will work at the Anglican Communion Office for some days each month.

The Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, the present secretary general, will leave the post at the end of December as he has been elected bishop of Limerick and Killaloe in the Church of Ireland. His consecration date is Jan. 24.

Barnett-Cowan said that she has surprised herself by undertaking this task as she was looking forward to her retirement, but that she is happy to fill in to bridge the gap while the search process is going on.

The Standing Committee meets at the end of November to review the job description for the secretary general of the Anglican Communion and to set the appointment process in motion.