(ACNS) The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, today expressed his regret at the decision of the Most Revd Dr Mouneer Anis, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and President Bishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, to resign from the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion:
“Bishop Mouneer has made an important contribution to the work of the Standing Committee, for which I am deeply grateful. I regret his decision to stand down but will continue to welcome his active engagement with the life of the Communion and the challenges we face together.”
I would like to see the ABC address the issues raised in Bishop Mouneer’s letter of resignation. This press release is weak at best and I don’t want to think of what it would be at worst.
The tone of the statement reminds me of a stereotype press release generated by a CEO who has fired a subordinate by demanding his resignation, and is trying to smooth it over by saying a few nice boilerplate words – without any substance.
A person with less writing skills than Abp. Williams could have come up with something better than this.
I think it is far past the time for Her Majesty to put out a similar (although better-written) statement about Abp. Williams. Give him a living, and put him out to pasture back in some rural part of Wales.
And the Anglican Communion continues to disolve into Global South and revisionist fragments. History will show Rowan Williams responsible for the mess. When oh when will Her Magesty have enough of this death by a thousand cuts and ask for his resignation?
That’s it! Doesn’t sound that deeply grateful but more deeply relieved.
I think that Her Majesty is more disturbed than the Royal Household will admit, and I do think that she can ask for ++Williams’s resignation. Clearly, it is time for him to go!
I agree with Cennydd – the signs are that HM is concerned. If she is concerned then it is likely that other persons of influence in England are also concerned.
This is a product of the pressure which the orthodox have been bringing to bear on +++Williams – whether through Primates’ Councils, Gafcon, formation of ACNA, motions to Synod, public statements of support for other orthodox dioceses and leaders, etc. Even small witnesses, like individuals who speak their mind at Synods and conferences, are part of this orthodox pressure (or call it orthodox witness, if you like).
It is imperative that the orthodox maintain this pressure, so that the CofE establishment understand where +++Williams is taking CofE. If an orthodox ABC is not appointed soon, the Communion as a whole may write Canterbury out of any role outside the CofE. That would be a tragedy, but the alternative (+++Williams’ tolerance of liberalism and apostasy) would be worse.