Between the controversy over plans to ordain women as bishops in the Church of England, the coming decisions on the Anglican Covenant and the decision to not appoint Dean Jeffrey John as bishop of Southwark, it’s been a hard month for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Now there are reports that members of his House of Bishops are ready to oppose his leadership.
Ruth Gledhill reports in the Times (the full article is accessible through the paywall):
Liberal members of the House of Bishops at the General Synod in York have privately warned Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu that they will try to sabotage the Archbishops’ proposal on the floor of the synod if the Archbishops do not withdraw it.
A planned rebellion on something of this order is almost unknown, but Dr Williams detests being put under pressure to act against his conscience. Traditionalists are protected by his amendment because it gives them the chance to opt for a separate episcopal jurisdiction “untainted” by the hands of a woman bishop, thus taking away some of the usual jurisdiction from the woman.
[…]If Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu refuse to withdraw their amendment, which will be debated towards the end of 18 hours of debate this weekend on legislation to ordain women bishops by 2014, the bishops are threatening to vote against it.
If they are successful in defeating the amendment, Dr Williams will be under strong pressure to resign. Even if he clings on, his authority and credibility may never recover from the double debacle of defeat over women bishops and humiliation over Dr John, the Dean of St Albans.
Perhaps this threatened “rebellion” is behind the news that the Archbishop of York has come out swinging this morning in defense of his brother Archbishop:
“Dr John Sentamu told the church’s general synod there has been a ‘general disregard for the truth’ in recent criticism of Dr Rowan Williams.
Sentamu’s comments come after a selection committee including Williams this week blocked a bid by an openly gay cleric to become a Church of England bishop, amid fears the controversial ordination could have further strained the Anglican movement.
‘It deeply saddens me that there is not only a general disregard for the truth, but a rapacious appetite for ‘carelessness’ compounded by spin, propaganda and the resort to misleading opinions paraded as fact, regarding a remarkable, gifted and much-maligned Christian leader I call a dear friend and trusted colleague – one Rowan Williams,’ Sentamu said.”
From here. The full text of his address doesn’t seem to be available just yet. View his address here.
Addendum. Text of ABY’s address is now available.