Rowan Williams resigns

[Insula Dei]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-resigns-archbishop-canterbury

Is this standard within the Anglican church?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Yes, it is.

Also, sh**t.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Understandable (who in their right mind would want that job?) but a shame all the same. He was a good advocate for Christian ethics in public life, amongst other things. The CofE - and the wider Anglican Communion - will miss him for other reasons (and miss him they absolutely will).

Anyway, I'm feeling vaguely mischievous tonight so will suggest that he considers joining the Shadow Cabinet. Hey, he's made better arguments against the agenda of this government than certain ShadCab members (mentioning no names, of course)...

Also, sh**t.

He'd been dropping hints for quite a while.

[useful idiot]

Yes, it is.

Also, sh**t.

Are any of his probable successors really that much "worse" with regards to the homosexual issue from your standpoint? The BBC website gave a shortlist, and none of them seem particularly conservative (even if the Archbishop of York said that homosexual marriage shouldn't be legalized). Or is it that you think the others wouldn't be so willing to overlook the actions of the ECUSA?

I wish Wright were still a bishop, maybe he would have had a shot at the top job?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Yes, it is.

Also, sh**t.

Are any of his probable successors really that much "worse" with regards to the homosexual issue from your standpoint? The BBC website gave a shortlist, and none of them seem particularly conservative (even if the Archbishop of York said that homosexual marriage shouldn't be legalized). Or is it that you think the others wouldn't be so willing to overlook the actions of the ECUSA?

Uh, I care about other things, too. They've historically alternated Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals. I'm an Anglo-Catholic and tend to feel somewhat uncomfortable with Evangelical leadership. Christopher Cocksworth of somebody of the sort would be eminently respectable but would still take a while for me to adjust to. My concern isn't also necessarily so much about the successor as the mere fact that Dr Williams, whom I greatly respect and love, is resigning at all (although I understand the unenviability of his job for the past ten years and wish him all the best). I knew it was coming but I didn't know this soon.

I'm not currently worried from a political standpoint. Or rather, I am but no more so than I would be if Dr Williams weren't retiring.

[J. J.]

10-11 years has been the rough term since 1980, if not before.

My guess is Sentamu will replace it.

I know that I had some trouble with Williams' "mechanism."

[J. J.]

Ah, why isn't this in the religious section?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

My guess is Sentamu will replace it.

That's most people's guess at this point, but the favorite is seldom the eventual choice. The saying 'enter a conclave a pope, leave a cardinal' holds true to a certain extent in the Anglican Communion as well. Then again, this is David 'Forever Pandering' Cameron we're talking about...

[J. J.]

My guess is Sentamu will replace it.

That's most people's guess at this point, but the favorite is seldom the eventual choice. The saying 'enter a conclave a pope, leave a cardinal' holds true to a certain extent in the Anglican Communion as well. Then again, this is David 'Forever Pandering' Cameron we're talking about...

Actually, it is more likely to be a commission.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Nominations_Commission  They pick two names to submit to the PM to recommend to the Queen.

They usually nominate the one they really want and one that nobody wants.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Half expecting them to pick a boring halfwit like Carey. Of course such a decision wouldn't be quite as stupid as that one as it wouldn't involve an obviously brilliant candidate (David Sheppard) being passed over for political reasons.

[Silent Hunter]

You know, they used to call the Anglican Church "the Tory Party at prayer"... Can't say that any more.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

My guess is Sentamu will replace it.

That's most people's guess at this point, but the favorite is seldom the eventual choice. The saying 'enter a conclave a pope, leave a cardinal' holds true to a certain extent in the Anglican Communion as well. Then again, this is David 'Forever Pandering' Cameron we're talking about...

Actually, it is more likely to be a commission.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Nominations_Commission  They pick two names to submit to the PM to recommend to the Queen.

They usually nominate the one they really want and one that nobody wants.

Yes, but the Government has quite a bit of unofficial authority over the process.

You know, they used to call the Anglican Church "the Tory Party at prayer"... Can't say that any more.

Indeed. Rowan at times acted as the most competent small-l-and-o leader of the opposition for both New Labour and ConDem governments.