The Next Archbishop of Canterbury…or “Why We are Doomed” (Reposted)
Note: This brief article was originally posted last month. Now that rumors indicate Bishop Welby may in fact get the nod for Archbishop of Canterbury I’ve decided to repost it so that we might get a sense for who we are dealing with
I’m not on the edge of my seat. All three candidates said to be in the final running for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s throne seem positively ghastly. I say I’m not on the edge of my seat but that’s sort of a lie. I’m uninterestedly hoping that Bishop Welby of Durham, one of the purported conservatives in the running, does not get it. Which means he probably will. Anyone who can write two paragraphs like this...
Mission is a wonderful thing for many reasons. First, it is commanded by God, and thus to do it is to obey God. Second, it causes us to look outwards, away from those things that divide us, and to find ourselves shoulder to shoulder with others with whom we may disagree profoundly but with whom we share one unutterably precious thing — that we both love Jesus Christ and for His sake we are doing what we are doing.
Across the Anglican Communion, we are profoundly divided on many things, and yet at the same time there are links through diocesan and provincial partnerships. The more we are engaged in these works of mission, carrying in word and action the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world that is more and more in need of Him, the more we find ourselves regarding those with whom we disagree as fellow Christians, who may be wrong but with whom we are called to live, whose love we receive and to whom we owe such love…read more
...is more than fit to be not only a bishop but “the” Archbishop.
Because really it’s all about “mission”.
Except, of course, when it is all about “gathering at the table”
There is tension of course between what is right and what is wrong, what is true and what is false but by embracing the tension that is given to us in the other, diving together with the other into the vast sea of agape where the Sumi prophet Rumi dwells with Presiding Bishop Griswold (or perhaps it was the cloud of unknowing that hovers over the sea of Agape? I forget) we will begin, once more, to inhabit together the spirit womb of the Cosmic Yes…or something like that.
I’m sorry but give me a fire-breathing revisionist heretic over a a weak-knee’d, lets-all-embrace-and-do-mission-cause-mission-unites-but-doctrine-divides “orthodox” Anglican any day. A guy like Bishop Welby is far far more dangerous to orthodoxy than even the ferocious false teacher because naive orthodox leaders will trust him and follow his lead and give peace a chance and become very put out with all of us who would like it very much if, just for once, war - unrelenting conflict - might be given a chance when it comes to dealing with heretics.
What on earth does this man mean by “the gospel” if he thinks it is something that we can preach together with those who push for same sex blessings? Whatever it is, it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
And don’t get me started on Archbishop Setamu.
In any case, it appears to me that we are all doomed as Sarah would say.
But I’m sure God has it all figured out.
Have a great Tuesday.
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22 comments
RE: “In any case, it appears to me that we are all doomed as Sarah would say.”
Slowly but surely my unrelentingly apocalyptic vision of Our Immediate Fate is being inculcated into formerly optimistic fellow bloggers.
I will say this faintly sunny thing.
I think that Welby *starts* from a different place than Williams did. And I think Welby will learn—as did, for instance, Cox in California [remember him?]—that “reconciliation” doesn’t happen when the two groups hold antithetical and mutually opposing foundational worldviews.
I also still think it very possible that we get Graham James who is pro-blessing-sex-acts between two men and two women. So your wishes may be fulfilled, Matt—the libs are fighting very hard for him.
[1] Posted by Sarah on 10-2-2012 at 07:58 AM · [top]
Cheer up! Things will get worse.
[2] Posted by Anne Kennedy on 10-2-2012 at 08:20 AM · [top]
Yes, Anne, probably. I am, however, bouyed by the historical fact that though St. Athanasius was 5 times banished, orthodoxy triumphed. Not all the Arians at court, on the throne at Constantinople, nor in bishops’ seats could prevail. Not that it was pleasant for Athanasius and the Trinitarians, of course!
[3] Posted by dwstroudmd+ on 10-2-2012 at 08:30 AM · [top]
We are called to forgive one another for our own sakes and we can forgive for our own sake without receiving or seeking the forgiveness of those we forgive. Reconcilliation is cooperative and cannot be done unilaterally. We are not called and should not seek reconcilliation with those whose core values we do not share - a lesson from the presenter at a recent clergy conference. Of course, there can be some quibbling over just what values are core. But quibbling and compromising are not substitutes for sharing.
[4] Posted by Don+ on 10-2-2012 at 08:38 AM · [top]
I think “Worldwide Anglican Communion of Doom” has a nice ring to it.
And sounding more like a championship wrestling federation can’t do much harm at this point.
[5] Posted by episcopalienated on 10-2-2012 at 08:42 AM · [top]
What a horrendously disgraceful example Truro is setting for orthodox Anglicans and parishes around the world.
There is no “overcoming of the division” that has overtaken Anglicans within the Anglican Communion and elsewhere—that is a fraud and sham, albeit one that revisionist activists have proclaimed possible now for years.
Not to mention that—not only do the divided Anglicans not share the same gospel—but the set that believes a false and antithetical gospel to the Gospel has engaged in legalized theft of other people’s property, and is also engaged in proclaiming some of the most vacuous, grandiose and narcissistic twaddle that one can think of:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/29441
[6] Posted by Sarah on 10-2-2012 at 08:51 AM · [top]
I call that living with wrong doctrine. I call that lending an air of respectability to wrong doctrine. I call that the Great Anglican Compromise.
[7] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 10-2-2012 at 10:30 AM · [top]
#3 But it was FAR less pleasant for Arius, in the end. Google “Arius death”, but only not after a meal, and steeled with a strong stomach.
[8] Posted by Milton on 10-2-2012 at 10:39 AM · [top]
Would that be a championship wrestling federation or a championship wrestling communion? Or would it depend on who signed the Covenant?
[9] Posted by jamesw on 10-2-2012 at 01:15 PM · [top]
Oh dear
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3554265.ece
[10] Posted by Matt Kennedy on 10-2-2012 at 01:50 PM · [top]
Give Matt+ a cigar!
For your next prediction, who will win the Presidential horse race?
[11] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 10-2-2012 at 02:05 PM · [top]
jamesw:
It depends on who shows up for the smackdowns, and with what.
I see a real opportunity here for tee shirt vendors.
[12] Posted by episcopalienated on 10-2-2012 at 02:54 PM · [top]
” the more we find ourselves regarding those with whom we disagree as fellow Christians, who may be wrong but with whom we are called to live” How wrong does one have to be and still be considered a Christian? “Who MAY be wrong”? He is not even willing so say that some ARE wrong. This sounds like RW Part II. I’m sure his theme song of reconciliation is appealing to those who would like to mend what cannot be mended. Any attempt to repair the fabric will be a new patch on old cloth. What has happened over the last ten years is not a little bump in the road.
[13] Posted by Fr. Dale on 10-2-2012 at 04:00 PM · [top]
#5: episcopalienated wrote:
I think “Worldwide Anglican Communion of Doom” has a nice ring to it.
And sounding more like a championship wrestling federation can’t do much harm at this point. raspberry
Perhaps Worldwide Anglican Doominion, aka WAD. ;=))
[14] Posted by maineiac on 10-2-2012 at 11:59 PM · [top]
maineiac:
Oh, that’s much better! Someone’s thinking clearly.
If the Bishop of Durham ends up in the winner’s circle, he’ll want to get started right away with reconciling all sorts of things.
And if it’s Archbishop Sentamu instead, he can continue to wax eloquent about the backdoor version of gay marriage that dare not speak it’s name.
With any luck, The Doominion may be able to put some of its episcopal gabfests up against WWE events on pay-per-view. But there’s always the BBC and public television if that doesn’t work. [Bronx cheer]
[15] Posted by episcopalienated on 10-3-2012 at 05:35 AM · [top]
That would help alot with funding for Anglican TV.
At this rate, you all will make Mel Gibson Archbishop of Canterbury and Tina Turner will run TEC.
Now that I think about it, locking the Crown Nominating Commission in a large domed cage in the Australian Outback until they reach a decision would be superior to the current endless meetings. And Tina as PB would make GC a whole lot livelier.
Anglican TV Presents: THUNDERDOME
[16] Posted by tjmcmahon on 10-3-2012 at 06:40 AM · [top]
Why not just auction it off, in the traditional medieval Italian way?
[17] Posted by Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] on 10-3-2012 at 07:33 AM · [top]
Does that make 815 Mount Doom? I always kinda thought of it as Minas Morgul, but I could be wrong.
[18] Posted by tired on 10-3-2012 at 07:38 AM · [top]
Pageantmaster [Yay for Youcef]:
Because that would be too “unmanly and unEnglish,” even for the Anglo-Catholics.
I think the Queen should assert some royal authority and select the candidate who can give the best rendition of Standing on the Promises while another one accompanies him on an upright piano.
Either that, or just declare the See vacant until further notice.
That would be brutal and womanly, but surely English enough. Isn’t that what we really need?
episcopalienated [No pope for England - and why not put the ABC on ice for awhile?]
[19] Posted by episcopalienated on 10-3-2012 at 08:04 AM · [top]
#19 episcopalienated
Many thanks for giving my random thought some consideration
Well, if its good enough for the Borgias…
Well, that is how it was supposed to work, rather than death by committee
I wonder if anyone would notice? We already have another Primate in England who can stand in for ceremonial stuff, and a Supreme Governor who can preach the Gospel.
If anyone is interested in Bishop Welby, and where he is coming from, there is an interesting video from the Diocese of Durham which is quite revealing [h/t badman on TA] Floreat Etona!
[20] Posted by Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] on 10-3-2012 at 08:23 AM · [top]
Interesting that they can’t get agreement on one candidate and one reserve. That might just show that they are finally taking the problems faced by CofE seriously….
[21] Posted by MichaelA on 10-5-2012 at 01:50 AM · [top]
“The more we are engaged in these works of mission, carrying in word and action the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world that is more and more in need of Him, the more we find ourselves regarding those with whom we disagree as fellow Christians…”
It will be interesting to see how long he can sustain an attitude like that when meeting with foreign primates, especially with ++Wabukala who has consecrated ordinands to work within soon-to-be-Archbishop Welby’s own province, and will probably do so again.
[22] Posted by MichaelA on 11-7-2012 at 09:08 PM · [top]
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