The campaign, which mobilised ordinary worshippers against the so-called covenant, was co-ordindated by Mrs [Jean] Mayland from her two-up, two-down cottage in Hexham.
She criticised the Dr Williams as “a manager not a leader” and told The Times: “I still wish that he had stuck to himself and his integrity, while reaching out to those who were against gays and others, and more gently led us in the right direction.
“The next Archbishop should be someone who is able to understand that the Church should be able to bless civil partnerships and lead it into a discussion about gay marriage.”
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The churches have had plenty of discussion about gay marriage. What she really wants is someone who will tell all those who’ve been around the discussion, over and over, that they need to get with the program and and start making homosexual marriages. A discussion, after all, is something that you manage; so if she wants a leader, she doesn’t want a discussion.
[blockquote] “The next Archbishop should be someone who is able to understand that the Church should be able to bless civil partnerships and lead it into a discussion about gay marriage.†[/blockquote]
Which would split the church, and very likely lead to the same thing that has happened in North America – some orthodox Anglicans splitting to form new Anglican structures within England, and others remaining in CofE but sealing off their parishes and missions from any involvement with or contribution to the rest of CofE, except those that they deem orthodox. The process has already started, in a small way.
I get the impression that many fence-sitters in CofE take comfort from past events such as Methodism – the Methodists in the end were left with no alternative but to leave CofE completely, form a new denomination, and leave their opponents in charge of CofE. They haven’t grasped that this time its different: CofE has neither the resources nor the general public support that it had in the 18th century, and there is a new source of legitimacy for dissident Anglicans – overseas Primates who have far more baptised Anglicans under their care than ABC, and who are deeply respected for their orthodoxy.
The foolishness and lack of foresight of these liberals is truly astounding.