"Williams expressed his concern that the Episcopal Church’s governing system took too long to reach conclusions"

We are too slow?

C of E sure seems slow to me with regards to ordaining women as bishops and the endless meetings to decide that they still need more time.

So far his visit is less than impressive...

Rev. Kurt Huber
St. Peter's, Monore (CT)

"The Rev. Jim Simons...said Williams expressed his concern that the Episcopal Church’s governing system took too long to reach conclusions." As compared to whom? The C of E is still dragging its feet about consecrating women to the episcopate after how many years? Lambeth has been trying to get the Anglican Communion to talk and think seriously about committed same-sex relationships for several decades, with limited response. We may indeed sometimes get impatient about the time it takes us to reach decisions, but we do reach decisions, and we do it faster than many other provinces.

"Williams told the group that Episcopalians had to be aware that in some parts of the Communion, 'bishops only want to hear from other bishops,' Johnson said." And why is this our problem?

"Byron Rushing...said there was no question that Williams understands the polity of the Episcopal Church, but that he clearly has reservations about it." Who asked him? We understand the polity of the Church of England, and believe me, we have lots of reservations about it. Most of the time we hold our tongues.

The Episcopal Church has had bishops/clergy/laity synodical government for 220 years. This is considerably longer than any other province in the Anglican Communion, including our blessed mother the C of E. I think it's time for them to get off our back. We don't tell them how to govern their provinces (well, not too often!). They need to stop trying to tell us how to govern ours.

"Williams expressed his concern that the Episcopal Church’s governing system took too long to reach conclusions." Thought the problem was that the Church's governing system comes to conclusions too quickly - ordination of women; consecration of gays. Some folks are never satisfied. Make your mind up, Rowan.

Roger Mortimer

Williams told the group that Episcopalians had to be aware that in some parts of the Communion, “bishops only want to hear from other bishops,” Johnson said.

Too bad, so sad! >:-/

JC Fisher

Thinking of Bp Stephen Sykes thoughtful, historical insights into Anglican polity, governance, ecclesiology, and theology, this statement stuns:

Williams told the group that Episcopalians had to be aware that in some parts of the Communion, “bishops only want to hear from other bishops,” Johnson said.

Since the time of Sovereign in Parliament, laypersons have always had an active role in the governance, polity, and theology of the CofE, and do so as well in many Churches of this Communion in a number of forms, many of which have a conciliar shape in some fashion. I think our ecclesial deficit lies perhaps at least partially not where Archbishop Williams thinks it might, but in an "Anglican" deficit wherein some of our bishops worldwide think ourselves modeled on Rome, forget that this is not the case. Laity are a part of our governance, thinking, and life. That we have bishops and an active lay order is part of what makes us distinctly "Anglican."

Not long ago we were accused of moving to fast, now we're accused of moving to slow. One cannot have their cake and eat it too. It kind of looks like those who accuse others of reading the Bible selectively and then go on to themselves do the same thing but claim that they read the Bible literally.

As the FoCAs bring the dynamics of the "Chapman report" to the ABC's home turf - maybe he will remember the people of San Joaquin, Pittsburgh, and Ft. Worth and call them for advice.

I do think someone should have reminded Archbishop Rowan that the "Supreme Governor of the Church of England" is a LAYWOMAN, and that he was apppointed by her.

If this meeting with the ABC can be reported openly why is his meeting with 8 gay deputies shrouded in secrecy?

I think his concerns over how long it takes us to do something probably has to do with the ACC as well as the covenant process. OCICBW but he is obviously frustrated about something.

And as to some bishops wanting to deal only with bishops, I remember a recent incident where some bishops from other countries were having trouble with having to express their opinions in the presence of our Presiding Bishop.