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Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Anhelyna

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from the BBC News Site just now


Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has announced he is to stand down in December.

He is stepping down and will take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013, his website says.

Dr Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.

In a statement on his website, the head of the 77 million-strong the Anglican Communion said serving as archbishop had been "an immense privilege".............

BBC News - Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to stand down
 

mark46

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The ABC is a godly man. He writes very well. He is personable.

However, from where I sit, the ABC has failed in one of his most basic tasks, leading the Communion through the issues that have it is schism. After all, many of the primates won't even attend Communion meetings.

I just don't understand your characterization. From 2002-2012, the Church has been in crisis and schism over sexual roles and over the provinces establishing missions within other provinces. In addition, as in most churches, there are those that have move away from the Orthodox understanding of the Creed.

In what way has the ABC succeeded in keeping the peace and in leading the Communion? What progress have we made toward unity in the Communion over the past 10 years. How are the two (and more) sides working together better now than in 2002?
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The Church has an opportunity, yet again. I pray that the new ABC will succeed in the areas where the current ABC has failed.



Im very sad to see him go, he was a great peacemaker and leader for the church in a very troubled decade.
 
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PaladinValer

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The ABC is a godly man. He writes very well. He is personable.

However, from where I sit, the ABC has failed in one of his most basic tasks, leading the Communion through the issues that have it is schism. After all, many of the primates won't even attend Communion meetings.

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make the horse drink.

The ABC did what he could; if the rest of the Church doesn't want to cooperate, that is not the fault of the good archbishop.
 
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mark46

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Is not one of hallmarks of leadership getting folks to cooperate?

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make the horse drink.

The ABC did what he could; if the rest of the Church doesn't want to cooperate, that is not the fault of the good archbishop.
 
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PaladinValer

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Is not one of hallmarks of leadership getting folks to cooperate?

Jesus failed then too; only a scant few with Him as He hung on the cross.

As I said; you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.
 
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ebia

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PaladinValer said:
Jesus failed then too; only a scant few with Him as He hung on the cross.

As I said; you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

Indeed. I don't think anyone else could have done any better. Most would have done a good deal worse.
 
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vespasia

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As far as the Anglican Communion goes- it does not have a 'leader'.
Rowan heads the Church of England and its proviance. He does not lead the other proviances and whilst he can exhort, encourage and try to facilitate people communicating with one another he could never force them to.

The communion only exists because people, that is all of us not just the primates, let it.

The big problem with Rowan is he really is an academic and a very good one at that but he does not do a great job of comming down off that mountain to explain faith in a way people can get based on where most people in the UK are. I like his books but something in them is getting lost when they need translating down to 'Spot the dog' theoloical level for the average church goer.
 
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ebia

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vespasia said:
As far as the Anglican Communion goes- it does not have a 'leader'.
Rowan heads the Church of England and its proviance. He does not lead the other proviances and whilst he can exhort, encourage and try to facilitate people communicating with one another he could never force them to.
Hmm. My impression from that is that we have a different idea of "leader".
 
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ebia

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I'd automatically be worried about anybody who even vaguely wanted the job these days.

Whoever it is will likely, if they serve for a reasonable time, be the ABC who "oversees" the disintegration of the Communion given that the CofE looks likely to decline the Covenant.
 
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AndrewRD

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While it's true I sometimes had disagreements or frustrations with Dr. Williams, I also would like to think I don't have nearly as negative a perception of him as many of the people I hang around with. Hey, the guy did the best he could in an impossible situation. I just pity whoever is instated next; they're essentially being handed a ticking bomb and told, "Congratulations, and Good Luck!"

Heck, some Anglicans would argue said metaphorical bomb has detonated already.... But whatever the case, I wish him nothing but the best and he will be in my prayers.
 
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PaladinValer

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It is true that the ABC's power is, by far, limited to his own jurisdiction: the Church of England. However, as one of the Four Instruments of Unity, the ABC has a level of authority in the sense that it is up to whoever sits on the cathedra of Canterbury who is in Communion with him/her and who is not. That is real power and something that no one should take lightly.
 
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