Friday, November 9, 2012

A New Archbishop of Canterbury... so what?!?

Justin Welby, the Bishop of Durham, has accepted the post of Archbishop of Canterbury.  Who is Justin Welby?  He is a former oil executive, educated at Eton and Cambridge, a novice bishop, former Dean of Liverpool, evangelical style Anglican, more traditional than radical, interested in what the Bible says, but a supporter of both women's ordination and contemporary worship forms.  But, of course, these things are somewhat relative since Anglicans are hardly Bible thumpers and they are so divided as to have elastic holding in the the communion with all its theological and practical diversity.  What will  he do?  Who knows?  Will it make a difference for a once noble tradition that seems bent on self-destruction?  Probably not but he could buy the church a bit more time.  He has managerial experience and knows the world from the vantage point of business and this certainly will help a communion accustomed to academics or clerics who worked themselves up the ladder of leadership.  Oh, well, interesting... but not all that relevant, at least to me...

3 comments:

Unknown said...

The CoE is destroying itself. Right now, all the candidates are just vying for the exalted honor of who gets to crash the plane into the mountain. Good riddance to them.--Chris

Anonymous said...

Aren't Anglican priests/bishops civil service jobs? I recall reading about different people in English history who are well known for all kinds of things except their job, parish priest. I remember reading about one English author who tried to get several jobs until someone with some pull got him a gig as a priest. It is basically a way for your friends in government to give you a job. (I mean no offense to the truly dedicated men in the Anglican church)

Mr. Mcgranor said...

Only a reactionary keeps the faith. As a man on the fringe; i have a squandered faith. Postmodern society rejects us for a reason. Not because they do not recognise us. Some years back--around the 90's--one could find his place marginalized. Now we don't even have that. Our brethren in Africa are doing what we offensive and bigoted escapees from the Counterculture no longer can. Let Western piety die in its present condition.