No.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers but by my best guess the Orthodox and Roman churches are the largest branches of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I'm not sure what "wider partnerships" there are out there.

I think the Archbishop is to be commended for his work towards ecumenical reunion (and his work towards inter-faith dialogue, which has been substantial) and I hope his successor continues in this path.

-Jesse

It is hard to say why the Archbishop seems to have changed his attitudes towards those who are victimized by the larger church. I find it hard to believe that he would be surprised at the hatred for women and glbt people by both churches just because he became archbishop.
I wonder though if a better explanation would be that there is what one says when one is outside of power position and what happens when one is placed into such a position.
However, my comments, and the post itself, is just speculation. What is needed is a direct question to the archbishop about his change in attitude towards the people mentioned in this post and what were the motivations for that change.

It really doesn't matter about the "wider church" because he has damaged the reputation of anglicanism with the wider humanity! He's completely abandoned justice and mercy for a mere political agenda, which was always doomed to fail with totalitarian churches which brook no differences nor independence. He has proven himself a poor servant and a poor shepherd, and hurt us all.

Mark Brunson

The emerging discussion around the Covenant was, I think, on the brink of a very interesting turn, which was around +++Williams' partners in drafting the proposed AC. Some real pieces of work in that crowd, for sure.

http://is.gd/c0UHLK

Eric Bonetti

Very interesting piece in today's NYT on the Russian Orthodox Church's active role in opposing intervention in Syria. Pretty interesting buddies Rowan has. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/world/europe/russian-church-opposes-syrian-intervention.html?_r=1&hp

I don't think so. The purpose of the Anglican Communion or the Church of England is not to act as a sort of "loyal opposition" to the Roman or Eastern communions, but to be our own expression of catholic Christianity. Despite our differences in doctrine, discipline, and practice, the things we share are far greater than the things that divide us: the episcopacy, the centrality of Scripture, the Creeds as the central rule of faith, and the administration of the sacraments.

Too much Anglican "ecumenism" is really a search for some kind of validation. We do not need the approval of Rome or Constantinople. If they are willing to work with us in the advancement of the Gospel, fine, but if their agenda trends otherwise, I'd let them do their own work.

Amen to Fr. Tobias' comment. I have long wondered why we are so eager to reunite with the RCC. They are treating their nuns shamefully (full disclosure: I am a graduate of a Catholic college and have nothing but respect and love for nuns,) and have shocked the world with their handling of the child sexual abuse scandal. I hope the next ABC will not waste precious time and energy on meetings with the Pope that yield nothing more than colorful photo ops. Every time Anglicans make a progressive move (ordination of women, ordination of LGBT persons), we get a warning from the Vatican that this represents a grave impediment to reunification. If we're really following the promptings of the Holy Spirit, then who is functioning as the impediment?

@Mary Anne: Enjoyed the points you raised. Were we to see areas where we could work together to eliminate suffering, reduce conflict, things of that sort, meetings with Rome might be useful. But none of that seems to have happened; instead, we see the pope trying to recruit Anglicans. Which is fine, but it doesn't strike me as a particularly poignant expression of friendship or good faith.

Eric Bonetti

I feel the gorge rise when I think that Kasper was present at Lambeth to spout his bigotry, even as Gene Robinson was locked out.

Why didn't/doesn't Rowan spend more time listening to his own people, rather than taking orders from popes and patriarchs?

June Butler

Correction - it was in fact the Oriental Orthodox churches which suspended dialogue, though the Russian Orthodox church also reacted extremely negatively to Gene Robinson's consecration.