Rowan Williams in perspective

[Shane R]

It's now been two years since Justin Welby ascended to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. He has had time to establish his tone and agenda for the arch-episcopate. With the passage of time and the perceived success or failure of Mr. Welby, how do mainstream Anglicans now view Rowan Williams and his tenure as ABC? Is it still too early to put Williams arch-episcopate in proper perspective?

 

[Liberasit]

Rowan Williams is a distant memory.

 

[John Shrewsbury]

A good man who was sadly out of his depth.

 

[vespasia]

A deep and insightful theologian, I suspect the impact of his written work will continue for decades.

 

[John Shrewsbury]

A deep and insightful theologian, I suspect the impact of his written work will continue for decades.

I agree. As a church, we have been studying some of his books, and they are very good. I just think he was out of his depth as AofC.

 

[High Fidelity]

Didn't really pay much attention to his tenure, but I've watched a lot of videos of him and he seems incredibly intelligent and a great theologian.

 

[PaladinValer]

A great theologian whose impact is not finished yet in the Anglican Communion.

The idea of him as a "distant memory" ignores a lot.

 

[Shane R]

I was somewhat curious if, in light of ABC Welby's accomplishments or lack thereof, anyone longed for the days of Rowan Williams or even the much reviled (at least in the Anglican circles I am acquainted with) Michael Ramsey.

I refer to Williams frequently in my academic studies and agree that he is a profound and proficient scholar. I think of him as a Melancthonian figure, theologically minded - even profound at times - but mostly lacking leadership ability.

 

[johnford]

I like anyone in leadership who lacks leadership ability.

Of course, Williams was not the sort of leader that shouted from rooftops unnecessarily.

I think he steared the congregation through a turbulent period which would have resulted in serious fracture if any lesser moral was playing leader.

 

[Liberasit]

I was somewhat curious if, in light of ABC Welby's accomplishments or lack thereof.

They don't call him the Wonga Man for nothing.

I think Mr Welby has achieved a lot in his short tenure. He is very outspoken concerning social justice, and has even managed to get a law changed.

I can't really think of anything his predecessor did that affected the life of the nation, outside of narrow parts of the church. I think that much of the Church of England thrived in spite of him, building on the momentum of a vision set by Dr Carey.

 

[Sean611]

First and foremost, Rowan Williams is an absolutely brilliant man. When he debates leading atheists like Richard Dawkins, one can feel comfortable that he will not embarrass Christianity, but will blow people away with his knowledge.

It is also interesting to note that he is generally supportive of same-sex relationships, yet he tried to put his feelings aside for the dominant view of the communion and even addressed the Episcopal General Convention begging them not to go forward ordaining priests in same-sex relationships. That being said, he will probably be remembered for his inability to really act when it mattered. I think he will be remembered as one of the great Anglican intellectuals, yet as an almost completely ineffective Archbishop.

 

[Picky Picky]

Strange, the different impressions people have. George Carey, I think, is still with us so I will temper my words, but I recall him as being felt an unusually ineffective archbishop. Whereas the "much reviled" Michael Ramsey I recall as being much loved. Rowan Williams was also much loved, at least in the Church of England. The "out of his depth" and "failed to act" type comments perhaps simply reflect that the power of the Archbishop of Canterbury within England is strictly limited, and in the wider Communion is almost non-existent.

The Church of England tends to follow an archbishop of one churchmanship and one set of skills with an archbishop of another churchmanship and another set of skills. Justin Welby was certainly an admirer of Rowan Williams, but there is no doubt he is cut from different cloth. And a good thing too. The church needs constantly to seek new vision of where to advance (and sometimes, of how to just mount a defence).

 

[Vanellus]

Maybe a parallel question would be to ask which of the two (Williams or Welby) have you read books on theology by. I would think that Williams would easily outscore Welby. So what kind of model of leadership do we want for the Anglican Church; theological or managerial? Maybe as Picky Picky says we need both kinds of Archbishop to provide a balance of leadership.

 

[Progguy]

rowan williams was superb, still is tbh