The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, The archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, and The bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader and David Cameron, the Prime Minister. Outline of procedures for appointment of an Archbishop of Canterbury
Primus responds
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says “I heard with great regret the news that Archbishop Rowan Williams is stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury. In the depth of his spirituality and the richness of his intellect, he has been an inspirational figure. Those gifts have enabled him to be a positive influence in society far beyond the boundaries of the church.
“Archbishop Rowan’s time as Archbishop of Canterbury has been marked by great difficulty. To be the person who is called to foster and to embody unity will always be a costly ministry. He has fulfilled that ministry with a wonderful grace and personal warmth.
“In the Scottish Episcopal Church, we are grateful for times when he has visited and enriched our life. On a personal level, I shall miss his friendship and support and wish Rowan and Jane many years of happy and fulfilling ministry.”
http://www.scotland.anglican.org/index.php/news/entry/the_primus_responds_to_news_that_archbishop_rowan_williams_is_stepping_down/#When:12:38:08Z
Archbishop of Canterbury honoured as ‘God’s apostle for our time’
Guardian – Leaders of different faiths pay tribute to Rowan Williams, who is to step down from role as head of Church of England
Rowan Williams, who has announced he is stepping down as archbishop of Canterbury, has been described as a “remarkable and gifted leader” of the church by the archbishop of York.
John Sentamu said: “Our partnership in the gospel over the past six years has been the most creative period of my ministry. It has been life-giving to have led missions together, gone on retreats and prayed together.
“In his company I have drunk deeply from the wells of God’s mercy and love and it has all been joyful. He is a real brother to me in Christ.”
He said the past decade had been a challenging time for the Church of England and the Anglican communion.
“Thankfully, archbishop Rowan is a remarkable and gifted leader who has strengthened the bonds of affection. Despite his courageous, tireless and holy endeavour, he has been much maligned by people who should have known better. For my part he has been God’s apostle for our time.”
Comments also by The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, The archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, and The bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/archbishop-canterbury-honoured-gods-apostle?intcmp=239
Guardian comment
When Rowan Williams was enthroned in February 2003, after being appointed by the Queen on the advice of Tony Blair, many expected the mild-mannered, academic former archbishop of Wales to usher in a new era of liberalism in the Church of England. His predecessor, George Carey, hailed from the evangelical wing of the church, whereas Williams was noted for his open approach to issues such as gay rights.
In the years that followed, however, Willliams disappointed both liberals and conservatives: the former because the balancing act he had to maintain in order to prevent traditional provinces of the church from splitting off meant compromise on a range of ‘liberal’ issues; the latter because he was seen as too close to those modernising elements of the church that wanted to usher in reforms such as the ordination of women bishops and non-celibate gay clergy.
Rowan’s defenders point out that, though a brilliant intellectual, he was fundamentally unsuited to the basically political role of archbishop of Canterbury. He was unable to heal the rift with more conservative branches of the church in the developing world, and alienated those in the liberal US church that were prepared to go further than any in their reforms. These divides remain unresolved to this day, and some see the Anglican church on the verge of schism.
It was clear to his friends that he disliked the sometimes Machiavellian nature of the job, finding respite in reading, reflection and literary criticism. He also made comments on the financial crisis and political direction of the coalition government which won him fans outside the church. He will return to Cambridge – where he was an undergraduate, and served as a chaplain – in January 2012 to become master of Magdalene College. He retains the admiration of many, but there is a sense by some of missed potential in his leadership.
As his time in office draws to a close, tell us what you think. Was Rowan Williams a good man doing an impossible job? Did he change the church for the better, or worse? Will he be missed in public life?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/16/archbishop-of-canterbury-resignation?intcmp=239
Andrew Brown in The Guardian
His time in office has been marked by a slowly growing schism in the worldwide Anglican church, which he has failed to heal. Williams has been attacked by conservatives for his liberal views on homosexuality and by liberals for failing to live up to these principles.
But he has been respected on all sides for his gifts as a preacher of great eloquence and flashes of clarity.
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, tweeted: “Rowan Williams will be sorely missed as archbishop of Canterbury; did what he said he’d do – challenge the imagination of our country.”
Williams’s generally leftwing politics have led him to clash with the government, most notably when he guest-edited an issue of the New Statesman last year, which was taken by Conservative MPs as a declaration of hostilities.
The prime minister, David Cameron, said: “I would like to thank Rowan Williams for his dedicated service as archbishop of Canterbury. As a man of great learning and humility he guided the church through times of challenge and change. He sought to unite different communities and offer a profoundly humane sense of moral leadership that was respected by people of all faiths and none.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-resigns-archbishop-canterbury?newsfeed=true
Outline of procedures for appointment of an Archbishop of Canterbury
C of E Media – The responsibility for choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury rests with the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC). Its task is to submit the name of a preferred candidate (and a second appointable candidate) to the Prime Minster who is constitutionally responsible for tendering advice on the appointment to the Queen.
The membership of the CNC is prescribed in the Standing Orders of the General Synod. When an Archbishop of Canterbury is to be chosen there are 16 voting members.
Extensive account of procedures and responsibilities of Archbishop at:
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/03/outline-of-procedures-for-appointment-of-an-archbishop-of-canterbury.aspx