Crown Commission Deadlocked on Vote for Next ABC

Those who Amazon Prime can watch an informative and entertaining episode of “Yes Prime Minister” on this very subject. It may also be available via Netflix (not a member). Irregardless, it’s probably worth a look if you haven’t seen it.

If only they could find someone who believes in the faith and is willing to espouse and defend it. Impossible?

#2 The closest candidate among the names usually mentioned we had for that was Richard Chartes, although I don’t think that he will get it. But we can see what is happening. Usually they like to alternate between Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics. Even the flimsiest evangelical would be unacceptable to the likes of Barry Morgan and those like him on the commission. Anyone these extreme liberals might support (Nick Holtham as ABC anyone?) would be unacceptable to the more orthodox and balanced members of the comission. Hence a possible source of the deadlock.

I think it’s time for the CoE to find an archbishop for itself and let the WWAC find its own Archbishop. Part of the problem with RW was his myopic view.

I could not agree with you more, Father. The CoE needs to spend time discovering what it really is in its context and start to see the WWAC for what it is…a distraction. And what’s Barry Morgan, who is NOT a Communicant of the Church of England…not even IN England, ecclesiastically, doing on the CNC? We’ve had enough of non-English interlopers on the throne of the English Church. Let the Church of Wales stay where it is and stop meddling in the CoE, as the EoE surely should stay out of the CoW’s business.

#5 Barry Morgan’s presence is bad, but for the opposite reason. He is there to represent the primates of the Anglican communion; to give an international perspective since the ABC has an international role. So, out of all the primates, they (the Schori-dominated standing committee) chose the one man whose province is the country closest in culture and viewpoint to England, and thus the least able to offer an international perspective.

Agree with #4 and #5. Yes indeed, it is long over due that the WWAC start seeing itself as what it really is (whatever your take on that might be) rather than as simply as an offshoot of the C of E. We have grown long past being a *creation* if you will of the CofE. Time to get the Global South primates together and elect an Archbishop for *the rest of us*. Let England have theirs.

#6- Look at the bright side.  By accepting the job on the commission, Morgan disqualified himself to succeed Rowan.  Else he might be the top candidate.

Good point, TJ. Although, you really *think* that he thinks being on the committee disqualifies him from being next AbC??? You are right, it should but think… he may very well have been put on the committee so the committee could say what about him? Lets do this! He already has our votes.

Did anyone else see this article in the Living Church?

Good point! Perhaps the WCC should be headquartered in Nigeria instead. Also, The *head* of the Anglican Communion should be elected- JMVHO. While we are at it- Move the See to Jerusalem!

I think a deadlock is the most positive news I have heard for a while from this CNC. At least it shows they are having a real debate.

I think a deadlock is the most positive news I have heard for a while from this CNC. At least it shows they are having a real debate.

I think, in part, you’re right. It signifies that the conservatives are not being pushed out. Indeed we might even get a somewhat evangelical outcome. Somewhat.

David, true, although I was thinking along somewhat different lines. 

I don’t think any of the front-runners sound like they are capable of addressing CofE’s decline, but in a way the position of ABC is not the focus anyway. Churches usually get the leaders they deserve, 2003 being a case in point: Prime Minister Blair rejected the alternative of Michael Nazir-Ali and chose Rowan Williams instead, but I do not recall any major (or even minor) outcry by the majority of CofE.  As an institution, COE wanted Rowan Williams. It saw him as a far more comfortable a choice than the upright Nazir-Ali.

The CofE’s biggest problem is the complacency of its “moderates”. 

What in my opinion the CofE needs more than anything else is to admit that it is not coping, that it in fact has deep-seated and potentially terminal problems: falling attendance and income, unpayable overheads, massive disunity, and it is steadily alienating the very people (orthodox evangelicals and anglo-caths) who it most needs in order to stem the decline.  The building blocks are in place for an alternative Anglican polity to be formed and once that cat is out of the bag it will be very difficult to put back.

Even if they chose someone like Chartres who has a deep understanding of CofE laws and politics, and powerful connections to use, he can only do so much.  The broader issue is in the church itself and no ABC can fix that by himself.

If these people on the CNC are having a serious debate about the choice of ABC, to the point of not meeting their deadline, then that is good.  It means they are admitting that as a body they do not have all the answers, and cannot simply sort everything out by consensus.  Its a small start.

There - rant over!

#13, MichaelA
I don’t see your comments as a rant at all. It is a clear headed assessment.