But here we have the story of a man who deeply believes in Jesus and deeply believes in the church. The Lambeth Conference of 2008””largely devoid of divisive resolutions and designed instead to be a genuine meeting of souls, minds and hearts””is the prime exhibit of his political philosophy. It is all about the exercise of authority. Williams exercises authority by speaking to God on behalf of the Anglican Communion and, as best he understands it (which is better than almost anyone else), speaking to the communion and the listening world on behalf of God. Prayer is the center of his politics. His roles in guiding his flock are to seek the common mind of his people and to model a form of attentive but courageous dialogue with the issues and people in whom Christ is made flesh and the Spirit is speaking today.
What Williams stubbornly, persistently and relentlessly refuses to do is to become an executive leader who charges forward fueled by nothing but the strength of his own intuition and armed only with his own self-righteousness. The result is, from those who seek such leadership, scorn and misunderstanding. But having read this book””a detailed and sympathetic review of an extended experiment in theologically considered authority””I cannot think of another figure, in church or world, who ever embarked on such an extraordinary program of servant leadership.
The problem with this is that Rowan Williams [i]has[/i] used his executive power to great effect in this Current Unpleasantness to undermine the orthodox at every turn and to make sure the common mind of the Communion is never translated into action.
Dear Kendall-
Shouldn’t you remove that apostrophe from Sam Wells’ name in the title? I see that you are reporting that he’s reporting, NOT that he’s possessing something.
“I cannot think of another figure, in church or world, who ever embarked upon such an extraordinary program of servant leadership.”
“He said to him, ‘yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’.”(John 21) Perhaps, Mr. Wells is unfamiliar with the Petrine ministry.
There’s a difference between servant leadership and facilitating an endless conversation.
Apparently there is no middle ground between doing nothing and being “an executive leader who charges forward fueled by nothing but the strength of his own intuition and armed only with his own self-righteousness.” Is “intuition” the only possible strength? Is “self-righteousness” the only possible arm?
What about Corinthians 16:13 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong”? What about Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Apparently it is possible to be strong in more than intuition and armed with more than self-righteousness.