The Lead

When Lionel Deimel asks "Why is Rowan such a disappointment?" you kinda want to sit up and take notice.

First, Rowan Williams, in becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, reached his level of incompetence. He became yet another illustration of the Peter Principle. He was a fine writer and theologian, one who seemed to work well with others. When he became Archbishop of Canterbury, however, it became clear that what he was not was a competent politician, and that’s what he needed to be, what Archbishops of Canterbury have often needed to be. (Some spectacular failures in this regard come immediately to mind.)
His abandonment of his friend Jeffrey John proved a fatal mistake from which Rowan has never recovered. He no doubt thought—I offer the most generous analysis here—that sacrificing John would buy him goodwill among Evangelicals. As any seasoned politician might have told him, however, he was merely throwing bloody meat to the sharks. He proved that he could be intimidated, and those who should have been considered his theological enemies were quick to learn the lesson of the demonstration....

One can hardly fault the Archbishop of Canterbury for trying to keep the Anglican Communion from disintegrating; doing so is surely a task entailed by his job description. In abandoning his own beliefs, however, he has allowed others to frame the rationale for Communion unity—the establishment of a reactionary worldwide church distinctively un-Anglican in its ethos—and his rudimentary political skills have managed to alienate Anglicans of every persuasion, save for the dyed-in-the-wool institutionalists.

Rowan Williams does not want to see the Anglican Communion self-destruct during his incumbency. I fear the only way to guarantee that outcome, however, is for him to step down. Although this would likely bring an Evangelical to the See of Canterbury, it is difficult to see how anyone could do a worse job than the incumbent. Rowan is playing the role of Archbishop of Canterbury as best as he can according to his understanding of that role. Alas, he has proven to be a very bad actor.

Comments (5)

And rightly so. Only One can be our focal point for unity as I noted here:

http://contemplativevernacular.blogspot.com/2011/01/focus-of-unity.html

Posted by Christopher Evans | March 14, 2011 10:49 AM

Makes me sad to see and note that Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury has bungled ¨unity¨ and ¨fellowship¨ amongst Anglicans so badly...he is clearly confused when operating from the vacuum of his ¨intellectual¨ circumstances...well educated strengths that somehow show little ability/experience to operate successfully in the REAL world filled with REAL people who have REAL ¨everyday living¨ challenges which ought be boldy faced/addressed and not ignored. Confused or cowardly or simply ill-informed?

Posted by Leonardoricardosanto.blogspot.com | March 14, 2011 11:17 AM

"as best as he can according to his understanding of that role. Alas, he has proven to be a very bad actor."

Either sub-par acting, or sub-par understanding. Given the grievous misapprehension of bona fides (as well as an apparent total misread of power plays & agendas), it would appear that ++Cantuar was nowhere near "ready for prime time" as it was being loudly broadcast from certain quarters....

Posted by Bill Nichols | March 14, 2011 11:34 AM

"Confused or cowardly or simply ill-informed?" -- Realizing that it probably sounds mean to say it, it certainly isn't my intent: My take is that he's simply out of his depth.

Posted by Bill Nichols | March 14, 2011 11:36 AM

Narcissus and the death of the Church.
The ancient Greek legend of Narcissus

“Narcissus or Narkissos (Greek: Νάρκισσος), possibly derived from ναρκη (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness," in Greek mythology was a hunter from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. He was exceptionally proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. As divine punishment he fell in love with his own reflection in a pool, not realizing it was merely an image, and he wasted away to death, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.” (from Wikipedia)

What the legend fails to reveal is that any reflection in a pool is inevitably distorted by the sunlight or lack of sunlight, by the ripples of the water, and by the depth of the pool.

Reflected light always has distortions.

In Christian theology the Church is meant to be a reflection of the glory, compassion, grace, and mercy of God. Indeed, that’s why there is a Church. It exists to reflect the goodness of God, NOT to project its own glory!

At its best the Church, with all its flaws, is an imperfect reflection of everything that this good and true about God.

At its worst the Church is in love with its own image, and like Narcissus it is doomed to die.

The death of the narcissistic Church will be good news for the world. And when that happens the loving and gracious God will find some other way to disclose her glory, compassion, grace and mercy for the utter well-being of humans and of all creation.

J. Michael Povey

Posted by jmo | March 14, 2011 5:23 PM

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