Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams steps down

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399403

I just saw this and thought it might be an appropriate time to comment on his ministry and work.

Some of the comments in the article are tellling.

Copied from one comment:
"Please appoint a proper Archbishop of the CofE not one that actually believes in the god nonsense."

Another:
"Christianity is represented by parishioners in this country continuing their turn towards the irrelevant, egocentric and avaricious, and I'm glad Williams will not be tarred by its brush in the coming years."

The Grauniad's take on it is at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-resigns-archbishop-cante...

I met him once in London, before he was archbishop, but well on his way. He was friends with Stanley Hauerwas, one of my profs at Duke, and we had a delightful conversation. I have read several of his books, and thoroughly enjoyed, not only his thinking, but the spirit of of his ideas.

Two more from today's Guardian:

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams could not heal church's rifts

Williams was perhaps the most intellectually distinguished archbishop of recent times... he was also regarded as a progressive. Certainly in political terms he is: a self-proclaimed hairy leftie... however... theologically, Williams was orthodox.

Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation sparks speculation over successor

What a tough job that must be.
Can the Anglican Communion avoid schism?

>6 margd: What a tough job that must be

I saw in one news story that John Sentamu, when asked whether he wanted the job, replied something to the effect of, "Are you serious?!"

sour grapes http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=594&p_t=index.php

I don't know about a schism, maybe. The Episcopal Church seems to live in diversity. The tensions are probably one of the aspects that I like about worshiping in the Anglican Communion, but we did have several churches leave the ECUSA over the consecration of Bishop Robinson. And some of my friends left.

To be honest about, it matters little to me who the Archbishop of Canterbury is. It matters little to me who my bishop is?

I am not even sure what the bishop actually does for a living? And I have asked that to one of my former bishops, but I don't think he took my question seriously.

Conservative Anglicans who wouldn't even pray with their Archbishop (#5). The Church of Nigeria's sour grapes (#8). Pope Benedict's extending invitation to disaffected groups in Anglican Communion without even notifying the Archbishop of Canterbury... Rowan Williams must have had patience of a saint! (Literally.)

I am not even sure what the bishop actually does for a living? And I have asked that to one of my former bishops, but I don't think he took my question seriously.

I think I glimpsed Rowan Williams in the Queen's Jubilee audience moving and singing to Paul McCartney's song ("All My Loving"?). Startling, but charming. Retirement looks like fun!

>12 margd: Most of the retired bishops that I know get a complete new lease of life once they take on the mantle of "emeritus", and become far healthier and more relaxed. I'd have retired years ago if I had a pension, and I'm not even a bishop...