Now he's going to represent the Church of England, rather than the Archbishop of Canterbury in that traditional role. This is a huge development for England - and thus for the Communion. Rowan moves into a executive position for the Anglican Communion (thus, strengthening his position as an Instrument of Unity) and the Archbishop of York represents the Church of England. The Archbishop of York takes on the mantle of primate.
Yes, it's interesting that York takes on the mantle of Primate, but there's something even more interesting which the author -- perhaps tired from his/her previous exertions -- seems to have missed.
If York represents the Church of England, then the Archbishop of Canterbury positions himself as actual head of the Communion: and Anglican Pope, if you will.
I seem to recall that the Windsor Report made a brief lamentation with regard to the lack of any centralized organizing leadership -- a weakness that's highlighted by the current crisis.
Putting the ABC in an "executive position" over Lambeth would seem to be upping the ante more than a little bit.
That's definitely the next logical step in his thinking, and I think the author is indeed aware of it...hence he calls it a major development.
If Williams decides to take this route, this *is* big--something this drastic definitely has to happen. If relations with Rome and Constantinople are to move to a higher ecclesial level, there *must* be firm discipline within the Anglican communion. TEC cannot be allowed to "reform" the historic faith at will...they have to be stopped, and the orthodox Anglicans in the US have to be vindicated *by the official Anglican Church*--not just by their own consciences.
As this Roman sees it anyway, Anglicanism faces a stark choice--ecclesiastical chaos, or being willing to level anathemas at the revisionists in TEC: "If he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you as a heathen or a tax collector".