The next Archbishop of Canterbury - and all future candidates for the posts of bishop or archbishop - will face a job interview for the first time in Church of England history.
In the latest attempt to introduce modern management practices into its selection system, the Church's General Synod decided that the body responsible for choosing bishops should meet and interrogate them first. Synod members appeared unimpressed by the view that some potential bishops are so modest and lacking in ambition that they would be reluctant to attend interviews.
They were also sceptical about the claim that candidates who were interviewed repeatedly but failed to get appointed would suffer emotional distress. At present, candidates are not even aware that they are being considered for posts.
Under the new plans, which will be brought back to the Synod for further debate, those on a final shortlist of four or five names drawn up by the Crown Appointments Commission will face an interview panel made up of commission members. The reform is part of a package to improve the transparency of an appointments system which has been criticised for excessive secrecy and encouraging an ecclesiastical old boy's network.
As part of the plans, the Church will announce vacancies in newspapers and encourage anyone to nominate a candidate, or even themselves. Clergy who are being considered will also be informed for the first time that they are on a shortlist.
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Peter Forster, backed the innovation of interviews, saying that they could be trusted more than the present system of references. He said the existing system favoured older candidates who tended already to be known to commission members.
The Rev Paul Collier of Southwark, a commission member, said: "I question whether there is any other job where the candidates are both not known to the appointment panel and are not interviewed."