As predicted, Rowan the fuzzy is planning to tapdance (my title)

London Telegraph ^ | 13 October 2003 | Jonathan Petre

[ahadams2]

Williams gambles to heal division over gays

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent (Filed: 13/10/2003)

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will attempt to prevent the acrimonious collapse of the worldwide Anglican Church at a crisis summit on homosexuality this week by gambling on an appeal to the middle ground.

To placate the conservatives, who are threatening a mass walkout, he will uphold the Church's traditional ban on gay marriages and the ordination of active homosexuals, despite his more liberal private views on the issue. But Dr Williams will resist pressure to expel the liberal American Episcopal Church over its decision to appoint Anglicanism's first openly active homosexual bishop.

According to insiders, he will argue that final decisions about how to deal with liberals who have stepped out of line should be deferred, despite demands by conservatives for immediate action.

The Archbishop could hardly be playing for higher stakes: if the conservatives walk out and set up a rival Church, they could take well over half the 70 million-strong Communion with them and destroy its credibility as an international denomination.

But if the American liberals go their own way, he could lose the wealthiest part of the Communion and huge credibility among his own supporters in England and abroad.

In an appeal to the moderates, the Archbishop will insist that, as he is merely the "first among equals" among his fellow primates, he has no papal-style powers to expel a province.

Such a decision could be taken, however, by a body such as the Anglican Consultative Council, whose membership includes clergy and lay delegates and which could meet in a year's time.

Dr Williams is also expected to argue that the primates need more time to create a mechanism for collective decision-making in the Communion to prevent such a crisis occurring in the future.

The Archbishop's diplomatic skills will be put to the test when the primates - the heads of the 38 autonomous provinces which make up the Communion - gather at Lambeth Palace for a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

The conservatives are furious with the Episcopal Church for defying the views of the vast majority of Anglicans by confirming the appointment as Bishop of New Hampshire of Bishop-elect Gene Robinson, who is divorced and has lived with his male lover for 13 years.

They want Bishop-elect Robinson to withdraw before his consecration next month, just as Canon Jeffrey John, another gay cleric, was forced to step down as Bishop of Reading earlier this year.

They also want disciplinary action taken against the Canadian diocese of New Hampshire, the liberal bishop of which has authorised blessings for same-sex unions. The liberals argue, however, that they have not contravened any world-wide Anglican laws because such laws do not exist.

The Lambeth Conference, which reaffirmed traditional Church teaching on homosexuality in 1998, has moral but no legal force, and they believe that the Communion should permit diversity.

Dr Williams, who has to hold the ring between the opposing sides without any real power, said last week that he was "hopeful rather than optimistic" that he will be able to avert one of the biggest catastrophes in Anglican history.

[ahadams2]

Sheesh I guess I was wrong - either Rowan the fuzzy really did NOT understand the intent of the Pope's missive to Plano, or he thinks he can weasel his way out of facing the consequences....

[ahadams2]

clueless archdruid of Canterbury Ping.

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[drstevej]

A Final Thought:

No chance the ArchDruid will actually take a biblical stance and kick the poofster bishop and his live in sodomite out of the church and tell the church that any Anglican upset over the decision can take a walk too.

The ArchWeasel will try to weasel his way out. Conservative better either mean business here or get use to a church that is indistinguishable from the Jerry Springer Show.

[ahadams2]

you want Jerry Springer - try Grace Cathedral in San Francisco or St. John the Divine in NYC any Sunday....

You're absolutely right though Dr. Steve there is no chance rowan the fuzzy will throw the homosexuals out, therefore what follows is now inevitable. I am receiving reports from folks who were at Plano telling me the mood has shifted to acceptance of the fact that the schism is already de facto reality, whether or not the de jure situation ever catches up, though it most likely will.

[drstevej]

***St. John the Divine in NYC ***

Been a New Age cesspool for years. The rector (is that the accusative case of rectum?) there wrote a foreward to David Spangler's Emergence:Rebirth of the Sacred. Spanger is an avowed Luciferian.

If there is a split as you anticipate, nothing could be healthier for the evangelical group. Like excising a massive hemmorhoid. There is a good bit of bleeding, but afterwards it is soooo much better.

[bonfire]

Being in church today felt like a funeral. Although we were PACKED, there was this pall over the service. I alternate emotions: ANGER, SADNESS, CONFUSION, IMPATIENCE, etc. I look around me during Mass and I know EVERYONE feels the same. I think if even ONE person started crying, the whole congregation would break down.
I am praying for the ABC and Griswald. Maybe the ABC WILL "see" something the rest of us can't. Maybe......

[MWS]

Too bad Rowan isn't Pope Piel...

(sorry, figured someone had to throw that in ;))

[drstevej]

Too bad Rowan isn't Anglican!

[claudiustg]

"According to insiders, he will argue that final decisions about how to deal with liberals who have stepped out of line should be deferred, despite demands by conservatives for immediate action."

He would be wise to imitate Paul, who faced such things at the beginning of the Church.

[q_an_a]

This is an argument for the seperation of church and state. Liberals have been in charge of canterbury too often since the end of wwII. part of the never ending pc story of the west.

one reason why america contributes so much aid to the world's poor is our religous groups. the english and the canadians worship at the church of the government office. the give only what the government says is needed. thus there are empty churchs everywhere in england and canada. they are leading the episcopals in the wrong way, the government and the dark.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - ANGLICAN

[ahadams2]

oh heavens! he would NEVER want to imitate a (racist/sexist/homophobe/whatever politically incorrect thing you can think of) like the Apostle Paul!

...and in this case, I fear, I am not being ironic.

[ahadams2]

you wrote "Maybe the ABC WILL "see" something the rest of us can't."

he does not want to see Truth and will avoid it at all costs.

[ahadams2]

oh boy - I just reread that post about the Apostle Paul and realized it might be ambiguous - what I meant was that Rowan the fuzzy sees the Apostle Paul as a sexist homophobic racist elitist...you know all that 'feminist theology' garbage...

[bonfire]

Like I said: PRAY!!!

My Bishop's site just linked this article:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=452727