A Tycoon In Lambeth Palace

[Guest]

It's not often I approve of public appointments, but the new A of C looks like just the right man at the right time.

I personallly couldn't stand Rowan Williams, who always looked like the woolly liberal from central casting and whose windy left-liberal line on everything ticked all the cliched 'trendy vicar' boxes.

Hopefully, the new Archbishop will remind us that God's kingdom is not, after all, of this earth and that if executives and bankers want to be greedy, that's the affair of them and the politicians.

Also hopefully, he'll bring some of his entrepeneurial experience to bear on making the Church of England more client-friendly and responsive. The current Pope has found it easy to make dawn raids on the C of E because he is offering a superior product with clear and easily understood benefits: the new Archbishop needs to defend and build on his brand so that it is (one again) a force to be reckoned with.

[amateur51]

As I understand it the principal skills and experience that he is believed to be offering are those of interpersonal problem-resolution and crisis-management, both of which he will need during his tenure.

For example, he has declared himself to be in favour of women bishops and although inherently not in favour of equal marriage, he is prepared to look into it further. That approach bodes rather well, I think.








other value systems are available

[Lateralthinking1]

I feel that they alternate. Good-bad-good-bad. I thought Rowan Williams was good.

[Flosshilde]

It's not often I approve of public appointments, but the new A of C looks like just the right man at the right time.

Not just public appointments.

Also hopefully, he'll bring some of his entrepeneurial experience to bear on making the Church of England more client-friendly and responsive. The current Pope has found it easy to make dawn raids on the C of E because he is offering a superior product with clear and easily understood benefits: the new Archbishop needs to defend and build on his brand so that it is (one again) a force to be reckoned with.

Religion as soap-powder. (or has Mand been listening to Tom Archer?)

I feel that they alternate. Good-bad-good-bad. I thought Rowan Williams was good.

Well, good at muddling through, & therefore managing to keep the whole rickety structure standing, which is perhaps the best approach to the two issues that the new one has specifically mentioned. The new one has offered very definite opinions about women bishops, which might mean (given the 'welcome' from the Nigerian (?) bishop) that the A of C finally becomes the head of the Church of England, & Anglican churches in other countries have their own, equal, heads.

[Lateralthinking1]

Well, good at muddling through, & therefore managing to keep the whole rickety structure standing, which is perhaps the best approach to the two issues that the new one has specifically mentioned. The new one has offered very definite opinions about women bishops, which might mean (given the 'welcome' from the Nigerian (?) bishop) that the A of C finally becomes the head of the Church of England, & Anglican churches in other countries have their own, equal, heads.

Yes, I think some will understandably look for outcomes rather than positions. Williams will score more highly on the latter than the former but then he was handed a poisoned chalice. Time can make a difference. He was arguably there at the wrong time.

It would be wrong to speculate on what the new one might do. But being very definite on women bishops could give him the room not to need to be definite on anything else. I would be surprised to hear him speak up much for the disadvantaged in this country.

[Flosshilde]

I would be surprised to hear him speak up much for the disadvantaged in this country.

Not so sure about that. When asked if he he would be political, he said that he wouldn't be 'party political' but that it ws in the nature of his job to be political. He also referred to his time in Coventry as being close to the disadvantaged. The fact that he's been a Bishop for less than a year might be an advantage - he won't have lost touch with the communities he's been working in, & the problems they face.

[Lateralthinking1]

Not so sure about that. When asked if he he would be political, he said that he wouldn't be 'party political' but that it ws in the nature of his job to be political. He also referred to his time in Coventry as being close to the disadvantaged. The fact that he's been a Bishop for less than a year might be an advantage - he won't have lost touch with the communities he's been working in, & the problems they face.

Good points Flosshilde. I have no reason to argue against them.

[mangerton]

Not so sure about that. When asked if he he would be political, he said that he wouldn't be 'party political' but that it ws in the nature of his job to be political. He also referred to his time in Coventry as being close to the disadvantaged. The fact that he's been a Bishop for less than a year might be an advantage - he won't have lost touch with the communities he's been working in, & the problems they face.

Like lat1, I think these are good points, and I do hope you're right.

[french frank]

Like lat1, I think these are good points, and I do hope you're right.

I like his recreations:

"Anything French, sailing"

[amateur51]

I like his recreations:

"Anything French, sailing"

http://u1.ipernity.com/12/64/34/6216...fd7eb3.560.jpg

[Ferretfancy]

When questioned on Channel 4 News last night, I thought him quite impressive, with a couple of reservations. The first is that he is of course sitting at the top of an organisation dedicated to the promulgation of fairyland nonsense. The second, and less important, is that like all the others he cannot find a way to resolve the debate about sexuality in the C of E. When the subject of gay marriage was touched upon, he said that he did not like to pigeonhole people and went on to say that he was considering his friends in other churches. This was presumably a reference to African Christians who condone the murder of gays, If he wants to be a strong leader he must deal with this issue head on, Rowan Williams failed.

Before a possible onslaught from Scotty and perhaps others, let me say that If people wish to believe in fairies or Bertrand Russell's orbiting teapot, that's fine by me, I've no plans to assassinate them, the poor souls can't help it after all.

[Mandryka]

When questioned on Channel 4 News last night, I thought him quite impressive, with a couple of reservations. The first is that he is of course sitting at the top of an organisation dedicated to the promulgation of fairyland nonsense. The second, and less important, is that like all the others he cannot find a way to resolve the debate about sexuality in the C of E. When the subject of gay marriage was touched upon, he said that he did not like to pigeonhole people and went on to say that he was considering his friends in other churches. This was presumably a reference to African Christians who condone the murder of gays, If he wants to be a strong leader he must deal with this issue head on, Rowan Williams failed.

Before a possible onslaught from Scotty and perhaps others, let me say that If people wish to believe in fairies or Bertrand Russell's orbiting teapot, that's fine by me, I've no plans to assassinate them, the poor souls can't help it after all.

True enough, but I think people sometimes forget the fact that religious leaders, more than politicians, have to consider the thoughts and feelings of their constituents. It would be politically impossible for the A of C, to condone homosexual marriage without creating a schism and forfeiting a load of his followers, who would decamp to Rome. The problem the C of E has faced under the leadership of vaccilating liberals like Williams is that no one is entirely sure what it stands for.

[Flosshilde]

I would have thought that his firm support for women bishops would be enough to send members - at home and abroad - into other churches or into schism. He has also left the door open a crack for the church accepting same-sex marriage, while condemning homophobia. I wonder how he's going to deal with York on that point?

[mangerton]

http://u1.ipernity.com/12/64/34/6216...fd7eb3.560.jpg

It just shows how careful you have to be!

[Flosshilde]

http://u1.ipernity.com/12/64/34/6216...fd7eb3.560.jpg

Bonjour matelot indeed!