The archbishop of York on Saturday rebuked some Anglican traditionalists for what he calls ungracious behavior toward Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Williams has drawn criticism from both sides in the Anglican Communion’s bitter division over the role of homosexuals in the church, but Archbishop John Sentamu told the Church of England’s General Synod that some of the criticism was wide of the mark.
Sentamu, regarded as the second-ranking figure in the Church of England, said it had “grieved me deeply to hear reports of the ungracious personalization of the issues through the criticism and scapegoating of Rowan Williams.”
“Rowan Williams exemplifies that quest of holding together holiness, truth, love and unity.
“The accusations and inferences of what has been said by some are not only ungenerous and unwarranted but they describe a person I don’t recognize as Rowan. He demonstrates, in his dealings with others, the gift of gracious magnanimity.”
I find this quote from Robinson in this article interesting:
[blockquote]”I think to absent oneself from the communion table because of the presence of other perceived sinners is blasphemy against the sacrament.”[/blockquote]
It is not that there are sinners at the table (since there always are), but there are publicly unrepentant sinners who are also false teachers that causes one to refuse to commune with them. And that is the proper Christian response.
[blockquote] In an interview with the Church Times newspaper published May 2, Robinson said he wished that Williams had acted strongly against bishops who refused to join at a communion service with the head of the U.S. Episcopal Church because of the gay issue.
“I would like him to have insisted that everyone stay at the table,” Robinson said. [/blockquote]
Welcome to the future of TEC, if we stay on the current trajectory.
Blasphemy? What an old fashioned word to use by someone to thinks: (his relationship with a boyfriend) = (every other faithful normal marriage in Christendom for the last 2000 years). Bizarre does even come close to describing it. To absent oneself from the Anglican communion table is the beginning of wisdom. To be in communion with them means precisely as much as Robinson’s “marriage” does. No Anglican who remains has *any* choice but to agree with that. It’s blasphemy, alright.
“Rowan Williams exemplifies that quest of holding together holiness, truth, love and unity.”
Words fail me.
Hey, is York running against Durham in the “replace the ABC sweepstakes”? Or is this a fulfilled prophetic MONTY PYTHON skit? With dialog like this, I get the feeling I’m reading my daily MP calendar!
I was present. York’s address was pleasant enough but theologically flimsy. By all means defend the ABC but you need to also address the manner in which he is refusing to take firm leadership. We see rebellion evereywhere- no one consults him. Why? Becuase he does so little.
All day at Synod he sat looking tortured and beaten. His body language does not inspire confidence. He seems happy to merely wait and watch and see where the church ends up….that is not what a shepherd should do. We hear too much from the sheep and nothing from him. Even his sermon yesterday was utterly weak- Jesus is hurting with everyone – all sides are valid etc etc….
..speak the truth clearly and with love Archbishop. We cannot have it every which way. Choose which church the Anglican church is to be – lead people into it.– and be gracious to the excluded..
Amen, rugbyplayingpriest.
I feel rather sorry for the ABC; it must be terrible to be a shepherd who doesn’t know how to lead.