Jim, I think the issue is the "fault lines." A woman bishop in CoE will drive out a larger portion of folks than the same did in TEC, simply because the Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical Anti-WO parties are stronger and more fixed in their opinions.

It is the big split in the CoE itself that will have the impact elsewhere, not the issue of women bishops. The party structure overwhelms the particular issues. At least I think that's the point of the essay.

Among those stuck in the UK is one of our sons who was in Swansea for business and has had his flight moved up a couple of days each time it has been scheduled. It is huge economic problem as well as inconvenience. Shipping of fresh fruit and vegetables from Africa to Europe has stopped leaving farmers' produce to rot with no consumers. Many who are stranded have no more resources to stay wherever they are. Being stuck in Miami might be fun but for many it is tragic.

I think Tobias is right (as usual!) -- but I would add that the Anti-WO Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical parties in England are not only stronger but also much more extreme than we are accustomed to on this side of the Pond.

What may very well fracture the Anglican Communion, alas, are the GLBT issues (ordinations and union-blessings). OCICBW, but I think that in another generation this will have become a non-issue, as it already is for many. (And as WO already is for most.) How tragic for us! I take heart in recalling that in the 17th century, Christianity (already so fractured) did not fracture further over heliocentrism, by God's grace, and we may pray that by God's grace we will not fracture over GLBT issues. (But avoiding fracture is not worth throwing people under the bus, which I think is the greater sin. +Rowan, please copy.)

Time will tell, but I don't departures from the CofE coming anytime soon. My reason is that ultimately the fractures would be at the diocese level -- that is, until a woman is appointed to a diocese A would I expect trouble in diocese A (or if that appointed bishop was consecrated by a woman).

Then you have the likelihood that the first appointments of women will be in dioceses that are most women friendly, and those appointments won't begin until 2014 or so at the earliest. Meanwhile, I expect hearts and minds will continue to change in the progressive direction, as they have been.

At the same time, I expect the active membership in the C of E will continue to decline -- even though it is favored as the established church. Already the question in Africa and elsewhere is why should the C of E be the center when it is dying? Isn't it more likely that the C of E will simply lose its cachet that makes it the glue that holds the communion together?

Back again....!

Well, now I have read Jane Kramer's article in the April 26 New Yorker. It is very good. True, it's mostly about the issue of women bishops in England, but at the moment that's on the front-burner in the C of E. (But, as Ms. Kramer points, out, right behind it is lurking the GLBT issue that is on the front-burner for most of the rest of us.) She has an interesting quote from Diarmaid MacCulloch (whose new book I am early into; so far it is superb): “Rowan has enormous grace, he gives his opponents space, but he has a lack of killer instinct, which I’m afraid is a necessary quality for leadership.” (Ms. Kramer seems to have interviewed all the Usual Suspects.) Excellent article, and very much worth reading -- it gives a better perspective to those of us on This Side of the Pond.

Since I don't yet have my copy of the New Yorker, I read the entire article online, and I thought it was excellent. Kramer did her homework before writing. I now understand the Church of England much better than I ever did, and I see how the situation in England drives a good many of the statements of the ABC.

I also understand Rowan Williams a little better after reading Kramer's piece, which does not lead me to further agreement with him. You don't throw certain people under the bus for the sake of saving the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church of England.

Still, with all Kramer's good work, she doesn't get the difference between the adjective "Episcopal" and the noun "Episcopalian". Why is it so difficult to get that right? Sorry. The mistake grates.

June Butler