“…The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has today revealed that he is to step down from his role at the end of the year.
His decision comes after 10 years in the post and after accepting the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
In a statement issued from Lambeth Palace, the Primate of All England said, “It has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision. During the time remaining there is much to do, and I ask your prayers and support in this period and beyond…
…Archbishop Rowan’s announcement means that ACC-15 in New Zealand during the last quarter of this year will be his last as President of the ACC…”
Greenbelt’s Paul Northrop, had this to say about the resignation. It captures several of his ‘hidden’ qualities:
Personally speaking, during Rowan’s tenure as Archbishop, I have been saddened to all-but lose sight of that wonderful priestly poet and theologian who I was so excited to see first come into office, as he has struggled under the sheer weight of the institution that is the Church of England.
As a post-grad theology student in the 90s, I remember Rowan, as Archbishop of Wales then, coming to a Theology Reading Group I was part of. There, he sat with just six of us around a table and genially answered our questions to him about his book On Christian Theology. He had time for us. I was then, and have been ever since, a fan of his theology, his poetry, his thoughtful integrity as a person – and, yes, his godliness.
My hope for Rowan as he readies himself for the move to Cambridge at the end of the year, is that there he will find the space and time to recover his vocation as poet, priest and teacher. The Church still needs to hear his voice and pay attention to his witness. And, who knows, perhaps the playful and prophetic dimensions of his artistry might again regain their power at the margins. In other words, my hope is that this change in his role might, oddly, give Rowan more not less influence…”
As a recent reviewer of Ben Myers’ new book on Rowan Williams’ theology (which is outstanding, by the
way. I recommend it highly) wrote:
“One of the few missing features – perhaps weaknesses – of the book is a lack of notice that +Rowan usually speaks far more clearly than he writes. Williams’ writing can often seem a difficult, dry, protracted and sometimes depressing exercise in spiritual renunciation of the fantasies of the heart and mind. By contrast his presence in person is attentive, humorous and kind. There is a self-forgetfulness (literally a forgetfulness of self) to the archbishop that is very attractive…”
Update - 25th March 2012
Ben Myers (author of book to the right) offers a few thoughts on what kind of an academic William's will be at Cambridge. You can find it here.
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