The problem is Canterbury and the trust is running out. While Rowan sends out seemingly positive messages of conversation and dialogue he is in actuality inert and dangerously passive. As one leading organiser of GAFCON pointed out to me this afternoon, the Windsor Report clearly stated that those who caused the tears in the Communion to take place (the consecrators of Gene Robinson) should not be permitted representative functions in the instruments of unity. Yet that is exactly what an invite to Lambeth 2008 is – it is a representative voting role for a Bishop. Even Tom Wright agrees that that’s what the Windsor Report asked for, so in which case why is Rowan issuing invites to people that the Windsor Report says shouldn’t be coming?
This is the issue – Rowan, like it or not, is not doing his job. Furthermore, leading members of his team are telling TEC that it’s perfectly OK for them to carry on regardless with same-sex blessings and other ACO officials are resident clergy at churches where controversial gay communions take place. These key staff members are not censured nor is there a public retraction. Why should the orthodox leaders believe that Rowan will act positively when he lets his staff say exactly the opposite?
I agree with ++Venables, Rowan, Kath, their liberal friends and many of the Evangelical centre still thinking that we still member of the same body, but this is just a illusion. We aren’t any more. Using Dorothy phrase: Rowan this isn’t Kansas any more.
Who is “Kath” Paulo uk?
“Trust is running out.”
Rowan subverted the unanimous will of the primates, declared the deadline of DeS to not be a deadline and then intentionally muddled the evaluation of the September HoB meeting through the JSC sham report.
How in the world can anyone trust the man? He should be persona non grata. I would not give him the time of day if he asked me on the street.
If you really believe it crucial that key orthodox primates attend Lambeth please pray seriously because there is pretty well no possibility at present
I think this will be the litmus test to see who is in it for the power and who is in it for noble reasons. It appears that ++Venables and ++Orombi have the courage of their convictions. We’ll see which ‘key orthodox primates’ are willing to join them.
Steve
My guess is Paulo is referring to ++Katharine
Like it or not, in the C of E, money still talks and the Americans have the money.
Personally, I like Rowan, but I think he has his eye on the TEC treasure and not the treasures of heaven.
William Sulik:
Are you claiming “bowing to influence” or “selling your soul?
As St. Thomas More says in [i]A Man fo All Seasons [/i]
“Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to lose his soul for the whole world… but for Wales?”
I trust +Rowan, an oxbridge educated Welshman, is aware of both Matt 16:26, the line in the play/movie.
Peace,
Brian #4, ++Akinola does not have the “courage of [his] convictions”? If not, how do you differentiate?
Brian, maybe some are in it for the Gospel and don’t see the political machinations of Lambeth to be in any way relevant to the proclamation of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.