The American Spectator

Print Email

Text Size

Eminentoes

(Page 2 of 2)

Orthodox Episcopalians in the U.S., supported by far more numerous Orthodox Anglicans throughout the Global South, have pressed Williams to chasten the U.S. branch of his communion.

Williams has mostly abandoned his formerly liberal views on homosexuality, views that had prevented his appointment as a bishop by former Archbishop Carey. But he has also been reluctant to openly criticize the dwindling U.S. Episcopal Church, whose 2 million membership is but speck in the global Anglican Communion, increasingly dominated by fast growing, and conservative, African churches.

Williams' professorial manner has not been especially helpful in guiding the communion through the now almost 5 year old controversy. The possibilities for open schism within the communion seem greater, not less, because of Williams's inability to lead.

Although they rarely give 6,000 word lectures about post-modernism or the history of British jurisprudence, Williams' predecessor far more skillfully navigated the rapids of Anglican's theological and political disputes. When the U.S. Episcopal Church had seemed on the verge of openly accepting homosexual clergy, Archbishop Carey reputedly had quietly warned the U.S. presiding bishop that he (Carey) would then recognize the authority of departed conservative Episcopalians as a response. The U.S. Episcopal Church postponed its march into open schism.

"He is a man with many brilliant gifts. He must now focus on keeping the community together," Carey succinctly wrote in his 260 word recent newspaper op-ed about Williams. "I don't believe he saw the implication of the speech he made. I understand he is horrified by what has happened."

Carey promised Williams his prayers. But what Williams really needs is Carey's guidance on when to be quiet.

topics:
Islam, Law, NATO, Africa