The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) warmly welcomes the appointment of the Right Revd Justin Welby to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. We recognize in him a man of deep devotion to God, exceptional intellectual and leadership qualities, and a range of experience which like the Prime Minister we see as a breath of fresh air for the Church’s ministry to real people facing the demanding situations and decisions of contemporary life.
In the run up to the appointment much has been made of Justin Welby’s old Etonian background, and his limited experience as a bishop, as if these factors would automatically disqualify him for this most senior role. Yet anyone who knows him recognizes his excellent and non prejudicial way with people of all kinds of backgrounds, and his wide-ranging hands on experience in all aspects of practical church ministry as a parish priest, residentiary canon, Dean of Liverpool, and his most recent post as Bishop of Durham. Add to that his experience in the oil industry in Paris and London, in Coventry his expertise in reconciliation, and his knowledge of ethics and finance about which he has written widely, all this spells a fresh and relevant additional skill set for the many challenges which will face him in his new role as Archbishop.
We’re glad as a recognition of his orthodoxy, the wider Anglican Communion is already welcoming the new Archbishop’s appointment. Significantly also his experience in Africa has been welcomed by one of Nigeria’s most prominent Muslim politicians, which says much about Justin’s Welby’s interpersonal and communication abilities, and is also hopeful perhaps for some contribution to reconcilliation in the troubled relationships between Nigeria’s Christians and Muslims.
Clearly this is a man committed firmly to the message of the Bible, and truth and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform persons, communities and the nation. He, Caroline and their five children deserve the commitement of all our prayers. This is a good moment for our church and nation, and the wider world too. It’s a good moment also, to thank God, and pray that he will pour forth his blessing on his modest but gifted servant, Justin Welby that he may in the grace of God lead this Church of England out of its present moribund state to have a significant impact for Christ and the gospel on all the communities of our nation.
[url=http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/on-the-announcement-of-the-next-archbishop-of-canterbury/]Poem[/url].
This is encouraging to see: the evangelicals of the Cof E, Anglican leaders from GAFCON, Global South, and now even Muslim leaders in Nigeria. All who have worked with him recognize his orthodoxy, sanctity and humble, effective leadership. The only negative voices are the circumcellion fringe of the communion.
Now that he picks up the mantle of Canterbury, he will be walking the way of the cross. But it is Jesus’ cross that he is bearing. I am grateful that he is in so many people’s prayers and good will.
These are good signs.
[blockquote] “…the evangelicals of the Cof E, Anglican leaders from GAFCON, Global South, and now even Muslim leaders in Nigeria. All who have worked with him recognize his orthodoxy, sanctity and humble, effective leadership.” [/blockquote]
Actually, Tory+, that is not quite what they have done. In particular, the Anglican leaders from the Global South and from Gafcon have set clearly before +Welby the standard that they expect him to maintain while he is ABC. That is looking to the future. For example, ++Wabukala of Kenya writes:
[blockquote] “I am confident that these qualities, together with his sustained involvement in business and finance, will enable him to articulate the Lordship of Christ to a watching world as well as to a Communion in continuing disorder.” [/blockquote]
And the Lord willing, +Welby will indeed live up to that standard
[blockquote] “The only negative voices are the circumcellion fringe of the communion.” [/blockquote]
To whom are you referring?
[blockquote] “Now that he picks up the mantle of Canterbury, he will be walking the way of the cross.” [/blockquote]
I expect that +Welby himself would point out that he has been walking the way of the Cross for many years before this.
#2 [blockquote]The only negative voices are the circumcellion fringe of the communion.[/blockquote]
Oh come come Tory+, that is hardly very reconciling of you, is it? :coolsmile:
#4, you are right Pagentmaster. I retract that.
That’s great, after all, we can all do mission together, and stuff
Nope not with you. I only do mission with “heretics.” You should know that by now Pageantmaster :).
Hahahahahaha, #7 Tory+. I don’t know you but I think I like you. Not that that means much of anything, lol.
#2: “Circumcellions”? You think the multitudes of murdered Christians of Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Indonesia etc actively went seeking martyr status? that they viciously attacked and provoked Boko Haram, the Taliban et al?
Try living as a Christian in some of these places before you judge.
An interesting series of questions put to +Welby by a priest in Yorkshire:
http://cranmercurate.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/orthodox-primates-duty-to-quiz-dr-welby_11.html#comment-form
I think this is along the lines of a number of comments that have been made in different parts of the blogosphere – asking where +Welby is going to go in future. Fair questions, I suggest.
#9 clarin – I suspect it was a throw-away line, and in any event has been graciously retracted.
But Tory+, there is a serious point to my joke at #8, and that is about the wisdom of the line you and +Justin are taking, no doubt in all sincerity.
You are dealing with a Presiding Bishop who will:
a] Preach to General Convention about the need to reconcile and reach out to people with whom there is disagreement at the same time as her henchmen are arranging for bishops to receive official complaints. This is after Dan Martins had been wheeled out for Justin Welby to inspect to show how diverse theologically TEC is, and we all know that the PB moved against him at General Convention as well
b] Go to Auckland with Bishop Ian Douglas to talk about reconciliation and doing mission together and be gladhanded by Rowan Williams and Kenneth Kearon. Meanwhile shortly before, Douglas had voted in the Disciplinary Committee and the Presiding Bishop had signed the instrument to start deposition of Bishop Lawrence and to take over South Carolina. Shortly thereafter Charges had been found substantiated against 7 bishops including Dan Martins, rather disingenuously characterised by the TEC mouthpiece as an opportunity for ‘Conciliation’.
c] Welcome the appointment of Justin Welby as an opportunity to engage with mediation and reconciliation and mission with him at the same time as she was organising at the ACC meeting to take over the diocese of South Carolina
These people who +Justin praises, and intends to engage in reconciliation with, and you take to ‘Apostolic’ events in London, will smile and lie to your face at the same time as they are sticking a knife into their brother bishops and expelling people and congregations. They are coarse, unspeakably brutal, and in the case of the Presiding Bishop ruthless, brutish and brutal and uncouth. They are completely dedicated to achieving their aims at whatever cost, and will use you or +Justin to achieve that, relying upon your good will, and Christian ethics; but they do not behave like Christians and will have no compunction to use you both as they attack Christians. They have no respect for you, they consider you to be a means to an end. The only thing they fear is loss of influence with you and with the Communion, and they will spend any amount of money and effort to keep that, and so far Lambeth Palace and St Andrew’s House, and it appears now, Bishop Justin have been more than willing to assist them.
+Justin may well have negotiated with people such as Boko Haram, or the Taliban, but in them he was dealing with people who although ruthless do have a code of ethics and a belief in god, a day of judgement and a calling to account. That is not true of the PB or Ian Douglas, and they will do anything and tell you and +Justin anything you want to believe.
May I ask you to reconsider your approach, which far from being real reconciliation and mediation, is being used in the battle that Douglas, the PB and the Bishop of Virginia have waged to expunge the remaining Christian witness in TEC.
It +Justin is not completely closing his eyes to what is going on and did not just go to the TEC HOB meeting to get looked over by the ACO paymasters, I would really recommend going deeper into this and that +Justin does not follow the failing of that other OE, David Cameron, of appearing to listen, but steaming ahead, in the absolute certainty that he is right.
Reconciliation is a good thing, but indiscriminate obedience to it, can be used against people and to enable the bringing of heresy into the church from the the TEC circumcellion fringe
RE: “This is encouraging to see: the evangelicals of the Cof E, Anglican leaders from GAFCON, Global South, and now even Muslim leaders in Nigeria.”
I wholeheartedly agree — it’s good to see them all putting him on notice as they have done in statement after statement about the intrinsically communion-dividing acts of TEC, Canada and elsewhere. It will be interesting to see how he responds, but I am comforted that they are aware of how Bishop Welby and others have enabled and collaborated with TEC. Thank God we can depend on them not to “reconcile” with those within TEC who do not believe the Gospel.
RE: “The only negative voices are the circumcellion fringe of the communion.”
Well, no doubt Tory [i]wishes[/i] they were circumcellion. But I expect the last 10 years have demonstrated that they are anything but. But perhaps if he says it and hopes for it enough, it will be so.
; > )
Pageantmaster, as I have said before. This is not the forum. Call me sometime.
I am still deciding whether to extend the same courtesy to Sarah 🙂
#13 Many thanks Tory+ – Well I am sorry to hear that, I was rather enjoying the interesting and topical exchange. You were kindly taking my comments in good part and I appreciated you indulging me.
It is a shame, but I suppose one day we will have to book a trunk call through the operator and when the girl at the exchange puts us through we can continue this, or perhaps on the Private Messaging system here.
Btw Sarah is quite nice really – I have had perfectly pleasant conversations with her for a number of years, and she too indulges me and puts up with my English foibles.
Meanwhile God bless.
PM