An initial group of pastoral visitors has been named by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to assist in healing and reconciliation given the current tensions in the Anglican Communion.

Those appointed by Williams to the pastoral visitors team are:

• the Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, bishop of Seychelles (Indian Ocean);

• the Rt. Rev. Colin Bennetts, retired bishop of Coventry (England);

• the Rt. Rev. Simon Chiwanga, retired bishop of Mpwapwa (Tanzania) and former chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council;

• Major General Tim Cross, a retired British soldier who was the U.K.'s senior-most officer involved in the Pentagon's post-war planning in Iraq;

• Canon Chad Gandiya, Africa desk officer for the U.K.-based mission organization USPG; and

• the Very Rev. Justin Welby, dean of Liverpool Cathedral (England).

The Anglican primates, at their February 1-5 meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, affirmed the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group and called for the development of a "pastoral council" and the appointment of "pastoral visitors."