When [Rowan] Williams began his term in office in 2003, the Anglican communion was reeling from a bitter if recently resolved war over female priests. Williams had supported that step and cautiously supported the next\u201d\u201dthe ordination of female bishops. But he insisted on concessions to the \u201cconscience\u201d\u009d of congregations that disagreed. The latest version of that legislation, on which the church\u2019s General Synod is scheduled to vote on Nov. 20, promises that requests for alternative male bishops will be treated with \u201crespect.\u201d\u009d Williams campaigned for the new language, warning of \u201cintensified internal conflict\u201d\u009d if it failed.<\/p>\n
Williams\u2019s centrist approach doesn\u2019t suit all of his parishioners. Critics to his left have called his desire for unity his \u201cObama syndrome\u201d\u009d\u201d\u201da fanciful belief that the conservative side will come around if given enough time.<\/p>\n