Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has denied being unsupportive of Dr Williams, the current spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.
This Easter has seen a supposed “personal feud” between the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and his predecessor Lord Carey emerge into the open, with the release of a letter demanding that the former figure-head of the worldwide Anglican Communion end his “disloyalty”, reports Virtue Online.
The blunt letter rebukes Carey for what it suggests have been his efforts to set himself up as an “alternative leader” to Dr Williams.
The debate, which adds further controversy to the already strained Anglican Communion, has come about after Lord Carey has been seen to have intervened with Dr Williams’ guidance in a number of greatly sensitive issues currently taking place in the Church.
In speaking out a number of times on issues such as women bishops, gay clergy, and relations with Muslims, Carey has quickly become a figure-head for those that are opposing Dr Williams and are attempting to halt the liberal direction the Communion seems to be taking.
However, supporters of Dr Williams have now drawn up a new open letter to be sent to Lord Carey, and are anticipating that 15 bishops will sign it, report Virtue Online.
The Assistant Bishop of London, Michael Marshall has commented, “I will put my signature to that immediately.”
The Dean of Southwark, who also has expressed his desire to sign the letter according to Virtue, has said, “There is a steadily increasing anxiety that one narrow sector of the church is trying to reject our broad Anglican generosity.”
Virtue Online explains that the letter tells Carey: “Your actions in retirement are . . . discourteous to Archbishop Rowan Williams as he attempts to hold together the Anglican communion . . . [He] deserves our respect and support, not the disloyalty which you currently display.
“We respectfully request that you desist from further intrusions into areas now beyond your control, and honour the convention of not undermining the work of your successor.”
It has previously been rumoured that Dr Williams was planning to retire in 2008, but this rumour was quickly denied by Lambeth Palace. However, these types of rumours and now this open letter have contributed greatly to the sense of divisions currently running in the Anglican Communion. In particular, Virtue Online highlights the obvious splits the Church has over Dr Williams’ leadership, as evidenced by the current furore.
Lord Carey has been seen to have tense relations with Dr Williams since 1998, when he opposed his nomination as the Bishop of Southwark. Virtue Online tells that “About nine of the Church of England's 44 diocesan bishops are thought broadly to back Carey's conservative stance; about 12 believe Williams is insufficiently liberal, while the remaining 23 broadly support him.”
However, in response to the Open Letter, Lord Carey was quick to dispel rumours of a rift with Dr Williams. He said, “I am fully supportive of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The authors of the open letter seem intent on creating division where there is none.”
Daniel Blake
Christian Today Correspondent