Michael Turnbull (bishop)

On 25 June 2016, Turnbull preached at a Choral Evensong at St. James Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday.

At the introductory conference of the Foundation, Turnbull declared: "A question never far from the mind of a church leader in 'How can I break out of institutional shackles and be the true adventurous leader I want to be?'" In a 2013 book, Justin Lewis-Anthony questioned the presumptions of "true adventurous leader", arguing that "leadership is a myth." For Lewis-Anthony, being a "leader" is "antithetical to the model, ministry and challenge of being a disciple of Jesus Christ". A bishop should be a disciple who helps "others to become disciples as well".

On 14 July 2013, Turnbull preached at both services at St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Road, East Molesey, Surrey. He encouraged the congregation as the parish began a "new Mission Initiative".

The Church Housing Trust raises "funds for homeless individuals, some of whom have high support needs, who would not otherwise receive extra support." When its new facilities were opened in April 2010, the ribbon was cut by Turnbull, a Patron of the Trust." As of 2015, he continued as one of the nine Patrons of the Trust.

Steven Croft, ed., The Future of the Parish System: Shaping the Church of England for the Twenty-first Century (Church House Publishing, 2010). Contains quotations on page 155 from Turnbull.

In 2005, Turnbull was appointed a deputy lieutenant in the county of Kent along with twelve other citizens of Kent. The appointees were "honoured for their positive contribution to the county and/or the nation".

Turnbull has also served as Chairman of the Foundation for Church Leadership, Rochester, United Kingdom. From that position he wrote a chapter about the Foundation in a 2004 book Creative Church Leadership. In that chapter Turnbull wrote that "there has been a cultural shift in society as a whole from hierarchical to more corporate ways of doing things". In contrast, he continued, "the church has become locked into" an hierarchical "institutional framework" in which "authoritarianism of the worst kind" can be practiced. So, continued Turnbull, "it is time to go back to our roots and ask theological questions about the nature of 'church' and 'leadership'". To do this, the Foundation for Church Leadership was formed.

By 2003, Turnbull had been made an Honorary Fellow of St Chad's College, Durham and awarded honorary doctorates from Durham University (DD) and from the University of Greenwich. In 2003, he was appointed CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2003 for services to the North East and to the Church of England.

In the proposal of the Turnbull Commission, "the whole Church of England, money and everything, would have been run by the central committee". But the proposal was not executed. The Church Commissioners remained in existence, and in control of the money. The only reform executed was that he Archbishops' Council was established in 1999 "to co-ordinate, promote, aid and further the mission of the Church of England. It is composed of 19 members and 7 directors whose task is to give a clear sense of direction to the Church nationally and support the Church locally". Turnbull was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council.

In a 1998 survey of Church of England bishops about "possibility of alien life on other worlds," Turnbull said the discovery of other life could be a positive force. "God created all life. If it were possible to engage with life on other planets it would open our lives to the greater wonders of God's creation."

In a 1995 radio interview on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Turnbull said, "I think the conversation and the process of what the church thinks, believes, decides and disciplines in this area [homosexuality] does need urgent attention." Furthermore, he added, "to be honest, I'm disappointed that three years after the document 'Issues in Human Sexuality' [referring to the 1991 report by the House of Bishops], we haven't got further down the line in exploring this on a wide basis within the church." He said it was premature for individual bishops to accept the idea of clergy living openly in a homosexual relationship, but added, "I do know of many homosexuals — at least of some homosexuals, both clergy and lay people — who are amongst the most gifted and loving and committed people within church life". Asked whether, in view of his experience, a double standard existed within the church concerning clergy dismissed after a similar conviction, Turnbull said he thought it was unfair to compare a situation where a person's ministry had been rebuilt with cases in which the details are unknown. "I could, but I won't, name clergy who are in exactly the same position as me and who have had their ministries rebuilt after some kind of misdemeanour which was untypical, out of character, or who in fact needed help," he said.

Much of Turnbull's ministry has been England focused on reorganisation of its administrative structures. In 1995, George Carey appointed Turnbull as chair of the Commission on the Organisation of the Church of England with the task of producing a plan to save the Church of England. The commission was given the nickname "Turnbull Commission."

During the December 1995 Church of England Synod, Turnbull, reporting on the work of the commission, proposed a National Council with broad executive powers under the leadership of the archbishops of Canterbury and York. "Leadership, policy direction and strategic and executive responsibility are too fragmented and weak," Turnbull said during the debate. "The church at the national level clearly needs to work better as one body, not as some kind of dismembered jellyfish. Staying as we are and trying to tread water is not an option," he said. Other members of the Synod challenged the proposals as too much centralization. Turnbull's report passed by a vote of 239 to 167. However, the stiff opposition meant that the proposal was revised and returned for further debate in February 1996.

A report on the work and proposals of the commission was published on 1 January 1995 as Working as One Body: The Report of the Archbishops’ Commission on the Organisation of the Church of England with a foreword by the Archbishops and a Preface by Chairman Turnbull.

In 1995, after the Report of the Turnbull Commission was published, Hugh Craig, a member of the Council of the Church Society and who had served as a Church Commissioner wrote a critical review with the title "The Turnbull Report: An Analysis".

Working as One Body: The Report of the Archbishops’ Commission on the Organisation of the Church of England (Church House Publishing, 1 January 1995) Preface by Chairman Turnbull. The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes which Hinder it (Cambridge: Lutterworth Press, 2006). Foreword by Bishop Michael Turnbull. Gordon Kuhrt, Ministry Issues for the Church of England: Mapping the Trends (Church House Publishing, 2001). Chapter 32 "The Parish System" by Michael Turnbull. John Adair and John Nelson, eds, Creative Church Leadership (Canterbury Press, 2004). Chapter 17 "The Foundation for Church Leadership" by Michael Turnbull.

From 1994 (he was translated on 6 July and enthroned on 22 October) until his retirement in 2003, Turnbull was the Bishop of Durham, the fourth most senior bishop in the Church of England with a seat in the House of Lords. He was active in the House of Lords as the lead bishop on constitutional affairs and was prominent in the movement towards regional government in the North East.

In his 1994 speech in Church House, Westminster just before his translation to Durham Turnbull asserted his belief in the Virgin Birth of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, and in Hell, although maybe not as eternal damnation.

In his 1994 speech in Church House, Westminster just before his enthronement as bishop of the Diocese of Durham Turnbull was asked what his policy regarding gay clergy would be. He replied that: "An admitted and open lifestyle is incompatible with full-time ministry."

Turnbull's other posts have included member of the Commission on English Cathedrals (1992–94), Vice Chairman of the Central Board of Finance (1990–1998), board member of the Church Commissioners (1989–1998), chairman of the North East Constitutional Convention (1999–2003) and Campaign for English Regions (2000–2003), chairman of the Bible Reading Fellowship (1985–1994) and of the College of Preachers (1990–1998) and the Council of Scargill House (1969–1976).

In 1988, Turnbull was consecrated as the Bishop of Rochester. During his episcopacy, "a major [two year] training programme for local evangelists was established". In a 1994 speech in Church House, Westminster just before his translation to the Diocese of Durham Turnbull was "Asked what he was proudest of among his accomplishments in Rochester, Kent, he replied that the diocese had opened six new churches, and planned to open four more; and that he had set up an order of lay evangelists."

Parish Evangelism: a Practical Resource Book for the Local Church (London: Mowbrays, 1980) God's Front Line (London: Mowbrays, 1979) Learning to Pray (London: Mowbray, 1981) The State of the Church and the Church of the State, Coauthor with Donald McFadyen (Paperback: Darton Longman and Todd, 2012; Digital: Andrews UK Limited, 2012)

Despite his speaking out against homosexual clergy, in 1994 the News of the World reported that the bishop had been convicted of an act of gross indecency with a Yorkshire farmer. The offence occurred on 30 August 1968, as undercover policemen kept watch on public toilets in Hull. On 13 September at Hull magistrate's court, Turnbull, who at the time was chaplain to the Archbishop of York, pleaded guilty and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £6.30.

Turnbull was ordained priest in 1961 in Manchester Cathedral. As a priest, he held the following positions:

He began his ministry in 1960 as a deacon and curate of Middleton in the Diocese of Manchester.

Turnbull studied at Keble College, Oxford, graduating in 1958 with a MA. He prepared for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall and St John's College, University of Durham, graduating with a Diploma in Theology.

Anthony Michael Arnold Turnbull CBE (born 27 December 1935) is a retired Church of England bishop. He was ordained in 1961 and in 1988 he was consecrated as the Bishop of Rochester. In 1994, he became the Bishop of Durham until he retired in 2003. In his retirement, Turnbull continues "preaching and teaching and writing".