In the comments, Lapin notes that Ruth Gledhill believes the rumors about Archbishop Rowan Williams' resignation are likely true, because Lambeth Palace did not issue a denial but said only that the palace will not comment. You can listen to the BBC interview with Gledhill this past Sunday on BBC Radio for only a few days more. Gledhill bravely speculates on who will be named to replace Rowan. She says Abp. John Sentamu of York is very popular.UPDATE: On the other hand, Bishop Dan Martins of the Diocese of Springfield reports on his blog, Confessions of a Carioca, from Quito, Ecuador, where the Episcopal Church House of Bishops just completed their semi-annual meeting:
It's not often that I indulge in news mongering, but my ears perked up this afternoon when the Bishop of Bath & Well, a guest of this meeting of the HoB, brought his greetings to the house.The word from Bishop Price.
First, he addressed the rumor, first appearing in the British press a week or so ago, that Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will have resigned within a year's time in order to return to academia. This, Bishop Price told us, will not happen. He told us this emphatically, and without a hint of doubt. One might be forgiven for inferring that he had some inside information.
Good, adios Dr. Williams.
ReplyDeleteThe Archbishop of York, not so good. In fact, not good at all.
Certainly the Church of England needs some fresh, pure of heart blood? They ought beg Bishop Tutu to come and stay in the palace until they can (promptly, por favor) find a suitable leader and full-time human being for the Archbishop of Canterbury job...Rowan Williams should resign immediately and quit pushing his ¨punitive¨ covenant idea down the Synods throat...tiresome and hurtful lot, him. Leonardo Ricardo
Leonardo, what about the earthquakes in Guatemala? Were they near you? So far as I know, one person died. I pray there are no more deaths.
ReplyDeleteSince the present ABC seems to want to be a pope-like leader of the Anglican Communion, I think we should have a say about who is chosen as his replacement if he resigns.
Bath & Wells, Bishop Martins ("There's another dead bishop on the landing, Dad... looks a bit Bath-and-Wells-ish to me" - M Python).
ReplyDeleteGood to see that Bp Martins is attending the House of Bishops meeting. Lawrence of S Carolina apparently quit after the 2008 session & has a parochial visitation scheduled here in SC during the Quito meeting.
...a bit Bath and Wells-ish
ReplyDeleteYes.
Lapin, I'm glad Bp. Martins attended, too. I wonder if Bp. Lawrence is missed. Either he's being very quiet, or no one is paying attention.
I'm not sure how "popular" Sentamu is. Oh, he may get headlines, but the general sentiment among fellow bishops has been summarized often as "He thinks rather more highly of his ability than anyone else does."
ReplyDeleteHis relegating himself to the position of opening-act comedian for Rowan probably has not helped his public image much, either. From where I sit, watching him spout his little homey witticisms while praising Rowan Williams and the Covenant is uncomfortably close to watching Step'n'fetchit or Rochester.
On top of which, the fraternity of bishops seems, from the outside, to be a bit like academia, and Sentamu doesn't seem to have published that much, nor to be all that brilliant. The cool professor may be popular with the kids, but the kids don't decide who's department head or dean.
Remember the anonymous bishop quoted as saying of Carey, as ABC, that "George would be out of his depth in a font"?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if James Jones, the conservative evangelical Bishop of Liverpool and former chairman of the governors of Wycliffe Hall, who did a u-turn on homosexuality and formally apologized to Jeffrey John, would get a look-in.
Now that's an interesting thought, Lapin. I remember reading about Jones' change of heart.
ReplyDeleteNothing but time and death will get the tea-party religious right and its UK equivalent to bite the bullet on gay equality (Jones quit as chairman of Wycliffe Hall - pushed out, one assumes - when he apologized to John), but it would gain acceptance and support far faster elsewhere in the Anglican Communion with the backing of an ABC with his brand of churchmanship. A Nixon to China thing. His age (born 1948) might be a factor against him. There again, the bishop of Bath & Wells assures us .....
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the generations coming of age and the younger generations already of age accept gay equality. As the older generations pass away, the issue will pass away with them. We're seeing it happen already, and even some of the older folks are coming around. If the Church of England doesn't catch up, it will become ever more irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteBUT - Carey (aka Mr. Rumbold) has two things that Sentamu doesn't; a bibliography, and white skin - which does still count, no matter how superior the Brits may be in some social matters.
ReplyDeleteFWIW "The Most Reverend and The Right Honourable The Lord George Leonard Carey of Clifton PC ...... prolific author, faithful teacher and spirited defender of Biblical and orthodox Christianity" Will be Academic Convocation speaker at religiously orthodox and rigidly heterosexual Nashota House late next month.
ReplyDeleteMark, perhaps the powers who decide on the next ABC would choose Sentamu because they wish to lean over backwards to demonstrate that they are not racist. If Rowan does not retire next year, then Sentamu's chances would be slimmer.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I can't say I'm surprised at the choice of Carey for the speech at Nashotah House.