Thursday, April 22, 2010

Rowan to the “Global South”

News Digest

You’ve already seen the comment of Rowan Williams, “Archbishop of Canterbury,” to the 4th So-Called Global South to South Encounter.

Many of my friends and colleagues have offered articulate responses. I especially commend these to you.

As usual, I think Mark Harris is exactly right on. Read his reflections here.

Rowan Williams said:
In all your minds there will be questions around the election and consecration of Mary Glasspool in Los Angeles. All of us share the concern that in this decision and action the Episcopal Church has deepened the divide between itself and the rest of the Anglican family. And as I speak to you now, I am in discussion with a number of people around the world about what consequences might follow from that decision, and how we express the sense that most Anglicans will want to express, that this decision cannot speak for our common mind.
Of course, most of my friends in the Episcopal Church have taken umbrage. As do I. I took it as a slam against The Episcopal Church (U.S.).

But MadPriest has a different and valuable perspective, writing from the Church of England. He wrote in the comments here:
The Americans will claim to be have been insulted (although, to be honest, it will have no real effect on them), but it is the rest of us, the "Not In My Name" brigade, who have been insulted the most as we seem to have disappeared completely according to our beloved leader.
I think MadPriest is speaking sense. By saying that "everyone" is against the U.S. position, Williams is trying to disenfranchise our friends abroad even more than he is dismissing us. I have heard from other Anglican friends outside TEC that they support us. Perhaps they are even more entitled than we to be angry when Rowan Williams says that “All of us [Anglicans]” are against TEC and when he pretends to speak “our common mind” as if no one outside of the U.S. believes as we do – as if everyone else is against the stance we have taken. Williams is wrong. Dead wrong.

And It’s Margaret has a different perspective on the whole thing. She talks of the fear of the feminine. And I think she’s onto something. Go, Margaret!

2 Comments:

Blogger June Butler said...

When Rowan speaks against the election and ordination of Mary Glasspool, the Anglo-Catholics in the Church of England are with him in opposition, as are the conservative evangelical fundamentalists, the two groups who try to hang together in Forward in Faith, but probably will not.

The progressives and the folks in the middle get little or no attention from Rowan, because they don't make threats and loud noises.

It's sad.

4/22/2010 4:25 PM  
Blogger Lisa Fox said...

I think you're right, Mimi.

But a day will be coming to Rowan when his mumbleness lets the schismatics move into the Church of England.

I look forward to seeing how he behaves when he has to face the thieves and schismatics we've had to face.

4/22/2010 8:19 PM  

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