Chalk another one up for Canterbury's Archbishop - blunder that is!

Commentary by Robin G. Jordan

What was Rowan Williams thinking when he invited Peter Carnley to chair the Panel of Reference requested by the Primates? Like his appointment of liberal Robin Eames to chair the Lambeth Commission on Communion and his appointment of liberal Kenneth Kearon as Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, his latest choice does little to inspire confidence and trust in his leadership. The Lambeth Commission produced the highly flawed Windsor Report. After meeting with the US and Canadian bishops, Kearon released a statement that the Anglican Consultative Council would respect whatever decision was reached by the General Council of the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod. The Anglican Church of Canada had along with the Episcopal Church USA been asked to withdraw its representatives from the Anglican Consultative Council for a period of three years. This request was the closest action that the Anglican Primates could take to suspending the North American churches from that body. Williams as you may recall gave the nod to the appointment of controversial gay rights advocate Jeffrey Johns as the Bishop of Reading. He later withdrew his support for the appointment under pressure from orthodox Anglicans in the Diocese of Oxford and asked Johns not to step down. Carnley is the Bishop of Melbourne and the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. He is a self-described “progressive” who has advocated a more relaxed attitude toward same sex relationships in the Australian Anglican Church. His views have brought him into conflict with evangelical Anglicans in Australia and elsewhere. Carnley was quick to suspend and remove a priest in his diocese, who was consecrated a bishop in the Traditional Anglican Church. He has expressed sympathy for the position of the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada.

Was Williams hoping to discourage pleas for his intervention from beleaguered orthodox Anglican clergy, congregations and dioceses with this appointment? It certainly may have that dampening effect. Those who are likely to turn to him for help are experiencing serious theological conflicts with “progressives” like Carnley. In his public statements Carnley has not presented himself as a friend of orthodox Anglicanism but as an advocate of “progressive Christianity.”

Is it surprising, however, that Williams, himself a liberal, should appoint a liberal to chair such an important commission. Williams has yet to appoint someone from the global South, someone who is black or brown. Is Williams revealing an anti-global South prejudice – even a racial prejudice - in his appointments? Global South Anglicans can be expected to think so and who can blame them.

With Carnley chairing the Panel of Reference, orthodox Anglicans in the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada cannot expect much help from that body. Once more Rowan Williams has shown that he is really not a friend to orthodox Anglicans.