In this roundup, Reformed Anglicanism brings a survey of news reports about Dr. Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC), the 104th occupant of the see since 597 A.D., and his intentions to resign from Canterbury by the end of 2012 and to become the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge in Jan. 2013. We bring the news round-up from EVNews.org, the ABC's website itself, several articles from the BBC, Magdalene's website, The Washington Post, several articles from the Guardian (UK), and one from The Daily Mail (UK). Here's the roundup below.
From EVNews.org, we learn the following: http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=1450
Archbishop of Canterbury to step down December 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has announced today that he has accepted the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge with effect from January 2013. He will therefore be stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012.
Dr Williams’ intentions have been conveyed to The Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who formally appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams was appointed the one hundred and fourth Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002. He said today:
'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. I am abidingly grateful to all those friends and colleagues who have so generously supported Jane and myself in these years, and all the many diverse parishes and communities in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that have brought vision, hope and excitement to my own ministry. I look forward, with that same support and inspiration, to continuing to serve the Church’s mission and witness as best I can in the years ahead.'
Click here for rest of report
Click here for BBC News report: 'Archbishop of Canterbury to stand down.'
(Source: Archbishop of Canterbury website, 16/03/2012)
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Friday 16th March 2012
Archbishop Rowan Williams has today announced his acceptance of the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge with effect from January 2013. He will therefore be stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012.
Dr Williams’ intentions have been conveyed to The Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who formally appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams was appointed the one hundred and fourth Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002. He said today:
The Crown Nominations Commission will consider in due course the selection of a successor.
A full resource of the Archbishop's sermons, speeches, articles and interviews is available by clicking the buttons in the upper right corner of this page.
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He will take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January next year, his website says.
Dr Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.
In a statement on his website, the head of the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion said serving as archbishop had been "an immense privilege".
He said stepping down had not been an easy decision.
He added that during the time he had left there was "much to do" and thanked those in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion who had "brought vision, hope and excitement" during his ministry.
In a more in-depth interview, Dr Williams reflected on growing divisions within the Anglican Church, and said it seemed some conflicts would not go away "however long you struggle with them".
Dr Williams also reflected on some of his more controversial comments, including remarks in 2008 that adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK seemed "unavoidable".
He will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, both for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, until the end of the year, Lambeth Palace said.
Lambeth Palace said the Queen, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, has been informed.
The Crown Nominations Commission will consider "in due course" the selection of a successor.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said he had received the news "with great sadness" and described Dr Williams as a "remarkable and gifted leader".
Prime Minister David Cameron said Dr Williams had "guided the Church through times of challenge and change" and praised the work he had carried out around the world, including in Africa. Last October Dr Williams delivered a sermon in Zimbabwe as part of an African tour to try to heal divisions within the Anglican Church.
"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," Mr Cameron said.
'Avoid schism'
His resignation marks the end of more than 20 years as a bishop and archbishop. Dr Williams, who was born in Swansea and speaks Welsh, was consecrated bishop of Monmouth in 1991 and elected archbishop of Wales in 1999.
Dr Williams has also been pivotal to national events, including the Royal Wedding at which he married the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
His departure comes after tensions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality and women bishops.
Dr Williams said: "The worst aspects of the job, I think, have been the sense that there are some conflicts that won't go away, however long you struggle with them, and that not everybody in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation.
"But I certainly regard it as a real priority to try and keep people in relationship with each other."
He said he stood by his remarks in the early part of 2008 about Sharia law.
"I re-read quite recently the text of the lecture on Sharia law and I still stand by the argument of it," he said.
Responding to the announcement of his retirement, Church of England General Synod member Alison Ruoff said: "He's a kind, wise, warm, godly man, but had he actually stood up and been counted as a leader, I think we would be in a very different place in the Church of England from where we are now, and that is thoroughly regrettable."
Dr Sentamu is widely viewed as the front-runner to replace Dr Williams, and would become the first black Archbishop of Canterbury if so.
Other possible contenders include Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, who is the Bishop of Bradford, and the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, who leads the Church of England bishops in the House of Lords.
'Dim-witted prejudice'
In an interview about his potential successor, Dr Williams said: "I would like the successor that God would like.
"I think that it is a job of immense demands and I would hope that my successor has the constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros, really.
"But he will, I think, have to look with positive, hopeful eyes on a Church which, for all its problems, is still for so many people, a place to which they resort in times of need and crisis, a place to which they look for inspiration.
"I think the Church of England is a great treasure. I wish my successor well in the stewardship of it."
Dr Williams described serving as archbishop as an "enormous privilege".
Dr Williams met and prayed with
Pope Benedict at the Vatican last weekend
"The privilege is that you are taken into the heart of the local church's life for a few days, you see what really matters to people in parishes, schools and prisons and hospices and so forth," he said.
"I think there must be very few jobs where you have quite that degree of open doors for you."
He said he did not believe that Christianity was losing the battle against secularisation in Britain.
"I think there is a great deal of interest still in the Christian faith," he said.
"Although I think there is also a lot of ignorance and rather dim-witted prejudice about the visible manifestations of Christianity, which sometimes clouds the discussion.
"I don't think that there is somehow a single great argument that the Church is losing."
Dr Williams becomes the 35th Master of Magdalene College when he replaces Duncan Robinson in January next year. Mr Robinson has spent 10 years in the post.
A statement on the college's website said Dr Williams had the "capacity and vision to guide the college in a time of unprecedented change in higher education".
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A Press Release from Magdalene College, Cambridge re: Rowan Williams at:
http://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/information/news/newmaster.html
Press Release
Magdalene College, in the University of Cambridge, is delighted to announce that the 35th Master of Magdalene will be The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Dr Rowan Williams PC, FBA, FRSL.
The College has been fortunate in benefitting from the outstanding leadership of Mr Duncan Robinson CBE FSA,DL for the past ten years, during which time the academic standing of the College has been greatly enhanced, substantial efforts have been made to promote access, and a major new Court has been built, providing twenty-first century facilities.
The College looks forward to the Mastership of Dr Williams who has the capacity and vision to guide the College in a time of unprecedented change in higher education. His very distinguished record, both as a scholar and a public figure, will provide for the whole community a model of the high standards of achievement to which Magdalene is committed.
Dr Williams will also work with Fellows and staff in the vital task of increasing access and widening participation to students from every background and walk of life.
Commenting on the appointment, the current Master says “I congratulate the Fellowship on the appointment of Rowan Williams. The College is fortunate to have recruited as Master someone of such outstanding intellectual stature, and such profound commitment to public service, especially at a time when collegiate Cambridge faces so many challenges. I wish him every success in the post it has been both my privilege and my pleasure to hold for the past ten years. My wife and I look forward to welcoming the Williamses to Magdalene.”
Dr Williams said: “I am very grateful to the College for the honour they have done me, and look forward to being part of such a lively and intellectually rigorous community. I hope I shall be able to continue the exciting developments that have been taking place under the guidance of the present Master and the Fellowship, and Jane and I look forward to taking up this challenging office next January."
There has been a continuous tradition of academic study on the site of the College since 1428. The College was refounded in 1542 and is now a vibrant academic community of some 350 undergraduates, 180 graduate students and 80 Fellows, together with 90 administrative and other staff.
The installation of Dr Williams as Master will take place in January 2013.
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From the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13709883
Dr Williams is the 104th
Archbishop of Canterbury
His retirement marks the end of more than 20 years as a bishop and archbishop.
Dr Williams will leave his post at the end of December in time to start his new role in January 2013.
His departure comes after tensions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality.
Under his stewardship, the Church of England has come close to splitting in two over the ordination of gay clergy.
Further controversy is expected as the Church prepares to approve the final introduction of women bishops later this year.
Widely commended
However, Dr Williams will also be remembered as a peacemaker who used his time in office to make an impact across the world.
His visit to Zimbabwe in October was widely commended after he openly criticised the human rights abuses of President Robert Mugabe's regime.
And he has been praised for his ability to engage publicly on difficult matters of religion, particularly recently with the atheist author Richard Dawkins.
The Archbishop has also been pivotal to national events, including the Royal Wedding at which he married the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
In the past, Dr Williams has attracted criticism for straying outside of the religious arena. His opposition to the Iraq war, his call for reparations for the slave trade and his stance on the environment have raised eyebrows among the political establishment.
In 2008, he provoked an outcry after saying the application of sharia law in England under certain circumstances was unavoidable.
He also said the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden last year while unarmed had left "a very uncomfortable feeling".
And he spoke out against the coalition government, saying it is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted".
Excelled at school
Dr Williams is the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. He was confirmed at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 2 December 2002.
As Archbishop of Canterbury he is leader of the 77 million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion.
He was born in 1950 in Swansea, where his father was a mining engineer.
He excelled at school in every subject except one - he had a permanent note excusing him from sport.
He was keen on drama and starred in many productions at Dynevor grammar school and later at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he studied theology.
It is within the Anglican
Church that his views have stirred the greatest controversy.
He went to Oxford for his doctorate and lectured at Mirfield Theological College in Leeds before returning to Cambridge and Oxford where he was fast gaining a reputation as a formidable theologian.
In 1979, Dr Williams published his first book. And at the age of 36 he became Oxford University's youngest professor.
From 1991 to 1999, he served as Bishop of Monmouth, before becoming Archbishop of Wales.
He is the first Welshman for at least a millennium to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
A clue to his outspoken nature came at his enthronement ceremony in February 2003, when he used his sermon to urge Christians to engage the world of politics.
Since then, he has made clear his views on a range of issues. But it is within the Anglican Church that his views have stirred the greatest controversy.
Gay clergy
Dr Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women and in 2005 backed moves to allow women to serve as bishops, to the consternation of conservative Anglicans.
Hundreds of disillusioned Anglicans are now joining a special section of the Catholic Church - the Ordinariate - which has been created specifically for them by Pope Benedict XVI in protest at the decision to ordain women as bishops.
But it is, above all, the issue of gay clergy which has caused the archbishop his biggest headache.
Dr Williams met Pope Benedict
XVI at the Vatican in 2009
June 2003 saw the appointment of an openly gay bishop in Reading, Jeffrey John.
Initially, Dr Williams raised no objections to the appointment, raising hackles among conservative church leaders in the UK and abroad.
As the row escalated, Jeffrey John withdrew from the post.
Two months later, the rank and file of the Anglican Church in America voted to elect an openly gay bishop, Reverend Canon Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
As one African archbishop put it: "The devil has entered our Church."
Try as he might, Dr Williams has failed to get traditionalist church leaders - mainly in Africa - to reconcile their differences with the liberal wing of the church in North America.
The issue has threatened to cause a schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Unique position
In 2007, Dr Williams walked into another storm when he suggested the nativity could have been "a legend".
Yet, despite a number of meetings with the Pope, Dr Williams has failed to reach any sort of meaningful rapprochement with the Roman Catholic church.
In April last year, he was forced to apologise after saying the Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility after the child abuse scandal.
Dr Williams's major problem rests with his unique position.
The broad nature of the Church, which includes Anglo-Catholics, evangelicals and liberals, means that it is almost impossible for it to achieve unity on many controversial matters.
But unlike the Pope, he has no power to force any of his 38 archbishops to submit to his will.
The lot of an Archbishop of Canterbury has never been an easy one.
Thomas a Becket was murdered. Others, most notably Thomas Cranmer, have met their end courtesy of the executioner.
Throughout history, archbishops have been used as political pawns by monarchs, ridiculed as meddlesome priests by politicians and scoffed at as wishy-washy liberals by the media.
Dr Williams' outspoken views have ensured there are mixed opinions on him too.
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Another article from the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399806
Dr Williams said his decision
to resign had not been an easy one to make.
Dr Williams, 61, was appointed head of the Church of England in 2002. He has said he will take up the post of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013.
Fellow archbishops have praised Dr Williams as "gifted" and "humble".
But during his term as Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Williams has faced controversy over the Church's stance on women and gay bishops and same-sex unions.
A member of the Church's General Synod said under his tenure the Church had been allowed to become too liberal.
The editor of the Church Times said the internal disputes within Dr Williams's own church were probably what had "dragged him down".
"The last decade has 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.
"His stepping down to pursue something he dearly loves - teaching and writing - is received with gratitude, as this will continue to be a blessing to the Church."
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster the Most Rev Vincent Nichols
"In the last three years I have grown to appreciate more and more the fine qualities of Archbishop Rowan: His kindness, his sharp intellect, his dedication to striving for harmony between peoples, especially within the Christian family, his courage and his friendship...
"I thank him for all the service he has given, recalling particularly his warm welcome to Pope Benedict at Lambeth Palace, a visit reciprocated with similar joy just last week."
Lord Sacks said Dr Williams had served "with great distinction, integrity, courage and grace".
"It has been an honour to work alongside him over the past decade and I consider it a particular privilege to call him not just a valued colleague in faith, but a true friend.
"The personal bond we have built and sustained over many years has been a source of strength and a symbol of how people of different faiths can come together as strangers and part as friends."
"He is a deeply Christian man, both humble and holy, always approachable and never standing on ceremony...
"He has worked tirelessly over the past decade to hold the Anglican Communion together, taking very seriously the views of those who differ from him. He has tried to encourage everyone to work together, rather than to pursue their own agendas, and that is always a difficult task.
Dr Morgan said Wales had been particularly proud of Dr Williams.
"No doubt, being Archbishop of Canterbury has been a gruelling job for him and I expect he'll now be looking forward to returning to reading, writing and lecturing."
"Under Archbishop Rowan's tenure, the Church has really gone in a most liberal direction...
"Many, many churches have gone away from Bible truth and that's really to the detriment not only of the Church of England but also to the detriment to the nation...
"He's a kind, wise, warm, godly man, but had he actually stood up and been counted as a leader, I think we would be in a very different place in the Church of England from where we are now, and that is thoroughly regrettable."
"As a man of great learning and humility, he has guided the church through times of challenge and change," the prime minister said.
"He has sought to unite different communities and offer a profoundly humane sense of moral leadership that was respected by people of all faiths and none.
"As prime minister, I have been grateful for his support and advice and for the work he has done around the world, particularly in Africa where he has taken such a close interest in the Sudan."
"He has been an outstanding leader of the church in England and in the wider Anglican Communion in challenging times," he said.
"He has friends on every continent, and has played a vital role in building friendships across faiths and denominations.
"He has done what he said he would do which is to challenge the imagination of our country," Mr Miliband said, adding that he hoped Dr Williams would continue to do so in his new role.
"His period of leadership over the Anglican Church has been marked by a real lack of leadership on a range of theological subjects - from the issue of women to gay priests...
"Dr Williams has shown himself to be incapable of holding the communion together both domestically here in the UK and globally, and I think his time in office has done a lot of damage to the Anglican communion."
Mr Wind-Cowie said one of the most difficult problems for many Anglicans was the extent to which Dr Williams had allowed bishops in the House of Lords to pursue "such a divisive line" on issues such as welfare.
"It's probably right that his worth won't be appreciated till he's out of office...
"The difficulty is he's come to the post at a time when the Church is at its most fractious and has not the sort of personality to bang heads together or throw his weight around...
"He is good because he is extraordinarily thoughtful and at times this has been his undoing because as an intellectual, people have said 'well he's difficult to follow - difficult to understand'. I find that quite surprising because he's also very approachable...
"I think he's found relations with the rest of the world much easier than coping with the different factions within his own church."
Dr Brown praised Dr Williams for doing "an absolutely amazing job, in impossible circumstances".
"Yet what strikes one about Rowan is his amazing resilience and the fact that he's almost seemed to enjoy it and lost none of his humanity and humility...
"It's a sad day for me, as I've been very fond of him and enjoyed working with him. I'm glad he's going to something where he will continue to flourish, he's got so much to give to public life and he will continue to do so I am sure."
Bishop Jones said Dr Williams had served the Church, Britain and the Anglican Communion "tirelessly, courageously and beyond the call of duty".
"His visits to the diocese of Liverpool showed his pastoral sensitivity and his exceptional ability to engage a wide range of people in the debate about the Christian faith," he said.
"The House of Bishops greatly appreciates his outstanding gift of leading them in teaching the faith at a deep level."
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The Washington Post at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/rowan-williams-to-stand-down-as-archbishop-of-canterbury-leader-of-worlds-anglicans/2012/03/16/gIQANn22FS_story.html
LONDON — Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is stepping down at the end of the year, calling an end to a tumultuous decade as leader of a global Anglican Communion that has been sharply divided over sexuality and gender.
Williams, 61, renowned for his formidable learning, announced Friday he will take up a new post as master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
He was appointed in 2002 as archbishop of Canterbury, the senior official in the Church of England and the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, which says it represents 85 million people worldwide. A self-described “hairy leftie,” Williams is instantly recognizable due to his thick beard and vigorous eyebrows. His statements, often dense and complex, invariably were gently spoken. He is the author of more than two dozen books, ranging across theology, history, economics and the writing of Fyodor Dostoevsky. He eagerly shared debating platforms with his opponents, including atheist biologist Richard Dawkins. Much of Williams’ time as archbishop was devoted to trying to hold the diverse churches within the Anglican Communion together despite an often bitter dispute over homosexuality, which put conservative and growing African churches at odds with liberal churches in the United States and Canada. Within England, Williams disappointed liberal supporters by not backing the appointment of a gay priest, Jeffrey John, to a bishopric. Yet conservatives in the church remained suspicious of Williams because, as archbishop of Wales, he had knowingly ordained gay men to the priesthood. “The worst aspects of the job, I think, have been the sense that there are some conflicts that won’t go away, however long you struggle with them, and that not everybody in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation,” Williams said in an interview with the British news agency, Press Association. “Crisis management is never a favorite activity, I have to admit, but it is not as if that has overshadowed everything,” Williams added, saying “It has certainly been a major nuisance.” As the Church of England moves slowly toward allowing women to become bishops, Williams had sought with limited success to devise a formula to placate both advocates of female bishops and those in the church who refuse to have anything to do with them. The Anglicans’ looming final vote on female bishops, Williams said, is one of the “watersheds” this year that encouraged him to think of moving on. Williams also caused a political storm in 2008 by suggesting that Islamic Sharia law could have a role in Britain in settling some disputes. The ensuing frenzy ignored the fact that Islamic principles were already used to settle some disputes. The archbishop gained the support of Lord Phillips, then the senior judge in England, who said “there was no reason why Sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution.” Williams maintained warm relations with Roman Catholics even as Pope Benedict XVI created an ordinariate to receive traditionalist Anglicans who remain opposed to female priests and could not accept female bishops and other changes within the church. Last weekend, Williams joined Benedict at a ceremony in Rome where they urged followers to work and pray for unity. “In the last three years, I have grown to appreciate more and more the fine qualities of Archbishop Rowan: his kindness, his sharp intellect, his dedication to striving for harmony between peoples, especially within the Christian family, his courage and his friendship,” said Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Catholic Church in England. John Sentamu, the Church of England archbishop of York, said Williams had endured much unfair criticism. “Despite his courageous, tireless and holy endeavor, he has been much maligned by people who should have known better. For my part he has been God’s apostle for our time,” said John Sentamu, who figures prominently in speculation about Williams’ successor. “His stepping down to pursue something he dearly loves — teaching and writing — is received with gratitude, as this will continue to be a blessing to the Church,” Sentamu said. Williams has a deep connection with Cambridge University, where he studied theology at Christ’s College and then served as a tutor at Westcott House, a Church of England theological college in the city. He lectured in the School of Divinity from 1980 to 1986, and was dean and chaplain of Clare College from 1984 to 1986. Cambridge is also where he met his wife, Jane, a fellow theologian and author. They married in 1981. He was appointed bishop of Monmouth in Wales in 1992, and took on the additional title of archbishop of Wales in 2000. ------------------------------------------- The Guardian (UK) carried the story at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-church-england-archbishop?newsfeed=true
It is not every archbishop of Canterbury who would invite a comedian, even a fellow believer like the standup Frank Skinner, to Canterbury Cathedral to discuss faith, football and the evil forces of new atheism in front of a live audience.
But the very clever, very devout, Welsh grammar-school boy Dr Rowan Douglas Williams – described on Friday by one of his many supporters as a "turbo-charged Carey" in reference to his predecessor – has never been afraid of generating headlines or ruffling feathers.
Not everyone would agree with the views of his own children, one of whom was once overheard describing his father as the cleverest man in Europe. But there are few who would challenge the claim that the bishop, poet and theologian who speaks five languages is the cleverest man in the Church of England.
But his intelligence – or, rather, his sublime confidence in his intelligence – has led directly to some of the crises that have marked his tumultuous decade as leader of a global Anglican communion sharply divided on issues of sexuality and gender.
In his youth, Williams was known for his radical views. He was closely associated with the non-violent protests against cruise missiles. In the 1980s, he considered leaving the church over its treatment of gay clergy, and even wrote the definitive case for recognising faithful, committed gay relationships in the church: The Body's Grace.
Instead of leaving, however, Williams neatly distanced himself from the Church of England by becoming archbishop of the independent Church of Wales, where he knowingly ordained gay men.
If he wanted to stay in the Anglican fold, the move across the border was his only choice; under George Carey's hand, the Church of England had become distinctly hostile to Williams's highly intellectual, libertarian views. "Williams was unquestionably one of the least loved bishops in England and Wales," a friend said.
But while his views were controversial, his intelligence and spirituality were undeniable. The synod could not deny that he stood head and shoulders above every other contender to follow in Carey's footsteps.
The first archbishop of Canterbury to brighten Lambeth Palace by introducing teenagers to its corridors, Williams had the misfortune to be rising up the ranks at a time when the church was pulling itself apart over female and gay clergy.
On the former, he was triumphant. Thanks to his efforts there will be women bishops soon. But his attempts to devise a formula to placate both advocates of female bishops, and those in the church who refuse to have anything to do with such appointments, have had limited success.
On the issue of gay clergy he has acted in ways that many find hard to forgive.
The openly homosexual Jeffrey John, the dean of St Alban's, had been a friend of Williams for many years when the latter acceded to the seat in Canterbury. The two men had released a joint pro-gay statement after the 1998 Lambeth conference.
Among Williams's first acts on entering Lambeth was to remove the name of his old friend from Carey's blacklist of clergy who would never become bishops. He put John's name forward for the relatively modest role of bishop of Reading, knowing this was a red rag to the conservative evangelicals, who had opposed his ordination from the start. But he failed to anticipate the intensity of the furore.
The crisis eventually hit such a peak that Williams, whose grand vision for a universal church takes priority over any conflict with what he sees as his duty of truth, backed down.
John was forced to withdraw his candidacy and Williams was badly damaged: if John had been forced to resign for views Williams shared, the evangelicals pointed out, why was one unfit for the bishopric of Reading while the other continued in Canterbury?
Much of Williams's time as archbishop was devoted to trying to hold the diverse churches within the Anglican communion together despite the bitter dispute over homosexuality that put conservative and growing African churches at odds with liberal churches in the United States and Canada.
Williams also caused a political storm in 2008 by suggesting that Islamic sharia law could have a role in Britain in settling some disputes. The ensuing frenzy in some quarters ignored the fact that Islamic principles were already used to settle some disputes.
The archbishop gained the support of Lord Phillips, then the senior judge in England, who said there was "no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution".
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From EVNews.org, we learn the following: http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=1450
Archbishop of Canterbury to step down December 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has announced today that he has accepted the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge with effect from January 2013. He will therefore be stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012.
Dr Williams’ intentions have been conveyed to The Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who formally appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams was appointed the one hundred and fourth Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002. He said today:
'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. I am abidingly grateful to all those friends and colleagues who have so generously supported Jane and myself in these years, and all the many diverse parishes and communities in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that have brought vision, hope and excitement to my own ministry. I look forward, with that same support and inspiration, to continuing to serve the Church’s mission and witness as best I can in the years ahead.'
Click here for rest of report
Click here for BBC News report: 'Archbishop of Canterbury to stand down.'
(Source: Archbishop of Canterbury website, 16/03/2012)
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From the website of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2173/archbishop-of-canterbury-to-be-master-of-magdalene-college-cambridge
Archbishop of Canterbury to be Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Archbishop Rowan Williams has today announced his acceptance of the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge with effect from January 2013. He will therefore be stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012.
Dr Williams’ intentions have been conveyed to The Queen, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who formally appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr Williams was appointed the one hundred and fourth Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002. He said today:
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. I am abidingly grateful to all those friends and colleagues who have so generously supported Jane and myself in these years, and all the many diverse parishes and communities in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that have brought vision, hope and excitement to my own ministry. I look forward, with that same support and inspiration, to continuing to serve the Church’s mission and witness as best I can in the years ahead.
Dr Williams will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, both for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, until the end of the year. The Crown Nominations Commission will consider in due course the selection of a successor.
Some recent highlights of the Archbishop's time in office follow:
Faith
Archbishop Rowan is first and foremost a priest and Christian teacher in the Diocese of Canterbury and the country as a whole. As Archbishop he shares Christian teaching with the widest possible range of enquirers. | Dialogue on the nature and origin of human beings Thurs 23rd Feb 2012 - Archbishop Rowan Williams, Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir Anthony Kenny discuss "The nature of human beings and the question of their ultimate origin." |
 | The Archbishop writes to Lulu, aged 6, about God Fri 22nd Apr 2011 - When his six-year-old daughter, Lulu, wrote a letter to God, journalist Alex Renton did his best to get her an answer. |
 | Visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Fri 17 Sept 2010 - Pope Benedict XVI visited Archbishop Rowan Williams at the Archbishop's London home, Lambeth Palace. |
 | 'In Search of God' With John Humphrys Tues 31st Oct 2006 - the Archbishop talks about faith, free will, and the love of God with John Humphrys for the BBC Radio 4 series 'Humphrys In Search of God'. |
National Life
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Established Church in England. At times of national celebration or solemn reflection, he leads the nation's prayers. | The Queen makes Diamond Jubilee visit Weds 15th Feb 2012 - Archbishop Rowan Williams hosted a multi-faith reception for Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Lambeth Palace. |
 | Armistice Day service - 'our Forces have taken risks for the lives of strangers' Fri 11th Nov 2011 - The Archbishop preached at the Act of Remembrance in the churchyard of St Bartholomew’s Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church. |
 | The Archbishop of Canterbury on the Royal Wedding Thurs 21st Apr 2011 - in a video filmed shortly before the Royal Wedding, the Archbishop talks about the sense of hopefulness and generosity which lie at the heart of marriage. |
 | Sermon: end of military operations in Iraq Fri 9th Oct 2009 - In a service of commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the end of military operations in Iraq, the Archbishop questioned the morality of the war. |
Political Issues
Politics shapes how we live together in society. Archbishop Rowan offers the wisdom of Christian teaching and ethical reflection in public debates that affect us all. | House of Lords Debate on Christians in the Middle East Fri 9th Dec 2011 - The Archbishop spoke in the House of Lords about Christians in the Middle East, saying that their position was 'more vulnerable than it has been for centuries'. |
 | Archbishop gives evidence on House of Lords Reform Mon 28th Nov 2011 - The Archbishop gave evidence on the Draft Bill on House of Lords Reform, saying that the Second Chamber needed to 'represent the diversity of non-partisan civil society'. |
 | Time for us to challenge the idols of high finance Tues 1st Nov 2011 - The Archbishop on the 'widespread and deep exasperation with the financial establishment that shows no sign of diminishing'. |
 | The New Statesman, guest-edited by Rowan Williams Thurs 9th Jun 2011 - In his leader article, the Archbishop notes a widespread anxiety about proposed reforms and 'the feeling that not enough has been exposed to proper public argument'. |
 | Ethics, Economics and Global Justice - Cardiff lecture Sat 7th Mar 2009 - at a time of market turmoil, the Archbishop said it was essential for ethical behaviour to be an integral part of the economic process. |
Social Concerns
Archbishop Rowan's ministry is shaped by Jesus' teaching that we should 'love our neighbour as ourselves'. Archbishop Rowan speaks regularly to those who risk being marginalised, so that he can bring their concerns to public view. | Prison visit to HMP Grendon Fri 8th Jul 2011 - In an article published in the Guardian Online, Andrew Brown describes a visit by the Archbishop to HMP Grendon. |
 | Literacy, dignity and freedom - the Evening Standard Tues 7th Jun 2011 - In an article published in the Evening Standard as part of its Get London Reading campaign, the Archbishop says 'literacy is still about dignity and freedom'. |
 | Archbishop Tenison's School in Oval Tues 8th Mar 2011 - The Archbishop visited this Church of England comprehensive school for boys, which places a special emphasis on art. |
 | Renewing the Face of the Earth - Ebor lecture in York Weds 25th Mar 2009 - In this speech, the Archbishop says that respect for the environment is not an optional extra, especially for Christians. |
 | House of Lords debate - the Good Childhood Inquiry Thursday 12th February 2009 - The Archbishop spoke in the House of Lords, calling attention to the publication of the Good Childhood Inquiry report. |
International Affairs:
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop of the worldwide Anglican Communion, representing 85 million Christians in 165 countries. Archbishop Rowan shares in the work of churches around the world to teach the Christian faith and to care for those in need or in danger. | Archbishops' meeting with Zimbabwean President Mon 10th Oct 2011 - The Archbishops of Canterbury, Central Africa, Southern Africa and Tanzania met with President Robert Mugabe to protest against abuses. |
 | Into the Heart of Africa - Church Times article Fri 1st Jul 2011 - The Archbishop made a pastoral visit to the Church in north-east Congo, which is rebuilding after conflict. Malcolm Doney from the Church Times went too. |
 | Archbishop’s visit to Kibera slums, Kenya Thurs 23rd Jun 2011 - During a trip to Kenya, the Archbishop saw first-hand the 'inspiring work' being done by local churches in situations of extreme overcrowding and poverty. |
Inter-religious Relations
Reflecting the Christian principles of love and charity, Archbishop Rowan works to build harmonious relations between religions. | Reflections on Auschwitz - Birkenau Thurs 13th Nov 2008 - The Archbishop and the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, reflect on their visit to Auschwitz - Birkenau. |
 | 'Sharia law' - What did the Archbishop actually say? Thurs 7th Feb 2008 - The Archbishop's remarks on civil and religious law provoked a strong reaction. Read here the Archbishop's lecture at the Royal Courts of Justice. |
The Arts
Famously a fan of the Simpsons, Father Ted and The West Wing, the Archbishop is also a poet and author. His other cultural loves include Bach, Dostoevsky, and WH Auden. | Poetry with the Archbishop at Argyle Primary School Weds 18th Jan 2012 - the Archbishop visited Argyle Primary School at the end of the school’s Poetry Week, and shared some favourite poems with the pupils. |
 | A History of the World in 100 Objects - BBC Radio 4 Thurs 21st Jan 2010 - The Archbishop spoke about the 'Swimming Reindeer', a sculpture carved from a mammoth's tusk 13,000 years ago. |
 | Icons and the Practice of Prayer Fri 16th Jan 2009 - In a lecture at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Archbishop explored aspects of how icons are practical aids to meditative prayer. |
 | Where Rowan Williams meets Dostoevsky - The Telegraph Sat 27th Sept 2008 - The Archbishop talks to A.N.Wilson about his book Dostoevsky: Language, Faith and Fiction |
 | The Archbishop on Bach - BBC Radio 3 Thurs 22nd Dec 2005 - BBC Radio 3's A Bach Christmas: 'it's very difficult to listen to Bach without a sense of being invited to change your life'. |
 | Archbishop's Desert Island Discs - BBC Radio 4 Sun 22nd Dec 2002 - For Desert Island Discs, the Archbishop chose his favourite 8 tracks, a book and one luxury. |
A full resource of the Archbishop's sermons, speeches, articles and interviews is available by clicking the buttons in the upper right corner of this page.
--------------------------
From the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399403
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan
Williams has announced he is to stand down in December.
He will take the position of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January next year, his website says.
Dr Williams, 61, was appointed the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.
In a statement on his website, the head of the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion said serving as archbishop had been "an immense privilege".
He said stepping down had not been an easy decision.
He added that during the time he had left there was "much to do" and thanked those in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion who had "brought vision, hope and excitement" during his ministry.
In a more in-depth interview, Dr Williams reflected on growing divisions within the Anglican Church, and said it seemed some conflicts would not go away "however long you struggle with them".
Continue reading the main story
Church members will be surprised and some will be greatly troubled. There
will be a sense of bereavement about him leaving.
He has become a very revered figure. He took on an almost impossible job. Most people, even though he has enemies on both the more right-wing and liberal side of the Church, would respect the way he has dealt with the problems the Church has had.
His resignation is not that surprising - Dr Rowan Williams never wanted this job. He was a reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury. But he came into office feeling he was called to a job, but one there were few candidates for.
He hoped to recapture the imagination of the public for Christianity. But his 10 years in office have been hugely dogged by the disputes, especially over homosexuality.
Analysis
He has become a very revered figure. He took on an almost impossible job. Most people, even though he has enemies on both the more right-wing and liberal side of the Church, would respect the way he has dealt with the problems the Church has had.
His resignation is not that surprising - Dr Rowan Williams never wanted this job. He was a reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury. But he came into office feeling he was called to a job, but one there were few candidates for.
He hoped to recapture the imagination of the public for Christianity. But his 10 years in office have been hugely dogged by the disputes, especially over homosexuality.
Under his leadership, the Church of England has come
close to splitting over the ordination of gay clergy and women bishops. Dr
Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women, and previously
showed no objection to the appointment of an openly gay bishop in Reading.
Dr Williams also reflected on some of his more controversial comments, including remarks in 2008 that adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK seemed "unavoidable".
He will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, both for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, until the end of the year, Lambeth Palace said.
Lambeth Palace said the Queen, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, has been informed.
The Crown Nominations Commission will consider "in due course" the selection of a successor.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said he had received the news "with great sadness" and described Dr Williams as a "remarkable and gifted leader".
Prime Minister David Cameron said Dr Williams had "guided the Church through times of challenge and change" and praised the work he had carried out around the world, including in Africa. Last October Dr Williams delivered a sermon in Zimbabwe as part of an African tour to try to heal divisions within the Anglican Church.
"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," Mr Cameron said.
'Avoid schism'
His resignation marks the end of more than 20 years as a bishop and archbishop. Dr Williams, who was born in Swansea and speaks Welsh, was consecrated bishop of Monmouth in 1991 and elected archbishop of Wales in 1999.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
End Quote Dr Barry Morgan Archbishop of WalesHe has been the most able Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the Church once he's gone”
His predecessor, Lord Carey, held the post for
11-and-a-half years and retired at the age of 66 in 2002.
Dr Williams has also been pivotal to national events, including the Royal Wedding at which he married the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
His departure comes after tensions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality and women bishops.
Dr Williams said: "The worst aspects of the job, I think, have been the sense that there are some conflicts that won't go away, however long you struggle with them, and that not everybody in the Anglican Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or separation.
"But I certainly regard it as a real priority to try and keep people in relationship with each other."
He said he stood by his remarks in the early part of 2008 about Sharia law.
"I re-read quite recently the text of the lecture on Sharia law and I still stand by the argument of it," he said.
Responding to the announcement of his retirement, Church of England General Synod member Alison Ruoff said: "He's a kind, wise, warm, godly man, but had he actually stood up and been counted as a leader, I think we would be in a very different place in the Church of England from where we are now, and that is thoroughly regrettable."
Dr Sentamu is widely viewed as the front-runner to replace Dr Williams, and would become the first black Archbishop of Canterbury if so.
Other possible contenders include Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, who is the Bishop of Bradford, and the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, who leads the Church of England bishops in the House of Lords.
'Dim-witted prejudice'
In an interview about his potential successor, Dr Williams said: "I would like the successor that God would like.
"I think that it is a job of immense demands and I would hope that my successor has the constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros, really.
"But he will, I think, have to look with positive, hopeful eyes on a Church which, for all its problems, is still for so many people, a place to which they resort in times of need and crisis, a place to which they look for inspiration.
"I think the Church of England is a great treasure. I wish my successor well in the stewardship of it."
Dr Williams described serving as archbishop as an "enormous privilege".
Dr Williams met and prayed with
Pope Benedict at the Vatican last weekend "The privilege is that you are taken into the heart of the local church's life for a few days, you see what really matters to people in parishes, schools and prisons and hospices and so forth," he said.
"I think there must be very few jobs where you have quite that degree of open doors for you."
He said he did not believe that Christianity was losing the battle against secularisation in Britain.
"I think there is a great deal of interest still in the Christian faith," he said.
"Although I think there is also a lot of ignorance and rather dim-witted prejudice about the visible manifestations of Christianity, which sometimes clouds the discussion.
"I don't think that there is somehow a single great argument that the Church is losing."
Dr Williams becomes the 35th Master of Magdalene College when he replaces Duncan Robinson in January next year. Mr Robinson has spent 10 years in the post.
A statement on the college's website said Dr Williams had the "capacity and vision to guide the college in a time of unprecedented change in higher education".
-------------------------------
A Press Release from Magdalene College, Cambridge re: Rowan Williams at:
http://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/information/news/newmaster.html
Press Release
Magdalene College, in the University of Cambridge, is delighted to announce that the 35th Master of Magdalene will be The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Dr Rowan Williams PC, FBA, FRSL.
The College has been fortunate in benefitting from the outstanding leadership of Mr Duncan Robinson CBE FSA,DL for the past ten years, during which time the academic standing of the College has been greatly enhanced, substantial efforts have been made to promote access, and a major new Court has been built, providing twenty-first century facilities.
The College looks forward to the Mastership of Dr Williams who has the capacity and vision to guide the College in a time of unprecedented change in higher education. His very distinguished record, both as a scholar and a public figure, will provide for the whole community a model of the high standards of achievement to which Magdalene is committed.
Dr Williams will also work with Fellows and staff in the vital task of increasing access and widening participation to students from every background and walk of life.
Commenting on the appointment, the current Master says “I congratulate the Fellowship on the appointment of Rowan Williams. The College is fortunate to have recruited as Master someone of such outstanding intellectual stature, and such profound commitment to public service, especially at a time when collegiate Cambridge faces so many challenges. I wish him every success in the post it has been both my privilege and my pleasure to hold for the past ten years. My wife and I look forward to welcoming the Williamses to Magdalene.”
Dr Williams said: “I am very grateful to the College for the honour they have done me, and look forward to being part of such a lively and intellectually rigorous community. I hope I shall be able to continue the exciting developments that have been taking place under the guidance of the present Master and the Fellowship, and Jane and I look forward to taking up this challenging office next January."
There has been a continuous tradition of academic study on the site of the College since 1428. The College was refounded in 1542 and is now a vibrant academic community of some 350 undergraduates, 180 graduate students and 80 Fellows, together with 90 administrative and other staff.
The installation of Dr Williams as Master will take place in January 2013.
-----------------------------------
From the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13709883
Profile: Dr Rowan Williams
Dr Williams is the 104th
Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams is standing down after accepting a position as Master of Magdalene
College, Cambridge.
His retirement marks the end of more than 20 years as a bishop and archbishop.
Dr Williams will leave his post at the end of December in time to start his new role in January 2013.
His departure comes after tensions within the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality.
Under his stewardship, the Church of England has come close to splitting in two over the ordination of gay clergy.
Further controversy is expected as the Church prepares to approve the final introduction of women bishops later this year.
Widely commended
However, Dr Williams will also be remembered as a peacemaker who used his time in office to make an impact across the world.
His visit to Zimbabwe in October was widely commended after he openly criticised the human rights abuses of President Robert Mugabe's regime.
And he has been praised for his ability to engage publicly on difficult matters of religion, particularly recently with the atheist author Richard Dawkins.
The Archbishop has also been pivotal to national events, including the Royal Wedding at which he married the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
In the past, Dr Williams has attracted criticism for straying outside of the religious arena. His opposition to the Iraq war, his call for reparations for the slave trade and his stance on the environment have raised eyebrows among the political establishment.
In 2008, he provoked an outcry after saying the application of sharia law in England under certain circumstances was unavoidable.
He also said the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden last year while unarmed had left "a very uncomfortable feeling".
And he spoke out against the coalition government, saying it is committing Britain to "radical, long-term policies for which no-one voted".
Excelled at school
Dr Williams is the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. He was confirmed at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 2 December 2002.
As Archbishop of Canterbury he is leader of the 77 million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion.
He was born in 1950 in Swansea, where his father was a mining engineer.
He excelled at school in every subject except one - he had a permanent note excusing him from sport.
He was keen on drama and starred in many productions at Dynevor grammar school and later at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he studied theology.
It is within the Anglican
Church that his views have stirred the greatest controversy. He went to Oxford for his doctorate and lectured at Mirfield Theological College in Leeds before returning to Cambridge and Oxford where he was fast gaining a reputation as a formidable theologian.
In 1979, Dr Williams published his first book. And at the age of 36 he became Oxford University's youngest professor.
From 1991 to 1999, he served as Bishop of Monmouth, before becoming Archbishop of Wales.
He is the first Welshman for at least a millennium to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
A clue to his outspoken nature came at his enthronement ceremony in February 2003, when he used his sermon to urge Christians to engage the world of politics.
Since then, he has made clear his views on a range of issues. But it is within the Anglican Church that his views have stirred the greatest controversy.
Gay clergy
Dr Williams has consistently supported the ordination of women and in 2005 backed moves to allow women to serve as bishops, to the consternation of conservative Anglicans.
Hundreds of disillusioned Anglicans are now joining a special section of the Catholic Church - the Ordinariate - which has been created specifically for them by Pope Benedict XVI in protest at the decision to ordain women as bishops.
But it is, above all, the issue of gay clergy which has caused the archbishop his biggest headache.
Dr Williams met Pope Benedict
XVI at the Vatican in 2009 June 2003 saw the appointment of an openly gay bishop in Reading, Jeffrey John.
Initially, Dr Williams raised no objections to the appointment, raising hackles among conservative church leaders in the UK and abroad.
As the row escalated, Jeffrey John withdrew from the post.
Two months later, the rank and file of the Anglican Church in America voted to elect an openly gay bishop, Reverend Canon Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
As one African archbishop put it: "The devil has entered our Church."
Try as he might, Dr Williams has failed to get traditionalist church leaders - mainly in Africa - to reconcile their differences with the liberal wing of the church in North America.
The issue has threatened to cause a schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Unique position
In 2007, Dr Williams walked into another storm when he suggested the nativity could have been "a legend".
Continue reading the main story
Listen to BBC Radio 4's Profile of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams
Find out more
Listen to BBC Radio 4's Profile of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams
The Catholic and Anglican churches feel that they must
stand together against the threat of secularism and that they are stronger in
cooperation than they would be divided.
Yet, despite a number of meetings with the Pope, Dr Williams has failed to reach any sort of meaningful rapprochement with the Roman Catholic church.
In April last year, he was forced to apologise after saying the Catholic Church in Ireland had lost all credibility after the child abuse scandal.
Dr Williams's major problem rests with his unique position.
The broad nature of the Church, which includes Anglo-Catholics, evangelicals and liberals, means that it is almost impossible for it to achieve unity on many controversial matters.
But unlike the Pope, he has no power to force any of his 38 archbishops to submit to his will.
The lot of an Archbishop of Canterbury has never been an easy one.
Thomas a Becket was murdered. Others, most notably Thomas Cranmer, have met their end courtesy of the executioner.
Throughout history, archbishops have been used as political pawns by monarchs, ridiculed as meddlesome priests by politicians and scoffed at as wishy-washy liberals by the media.
Dr Williams' outspoken views have ensured there are mixed opinions on him too.
---------------------------------------
Another article from the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17399806
Reaction to the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury
Dr Williams said his decision
to resign had not been an easy one to make.
There has been a mixed reaction to Dr
Rowan Williams's announcement that he will stand down as the Archbishop of
Canterbury in December.
Dr Williams, 61, was appointed head of the Church of England in 2002. He has said he will take up the post of Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013.
Fellow archbishops have praised Dr Williams as "gifted" and "humble".
But during his term as Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Williams has faced controversy over the Church's stance on women and gay bishops and same-sex unions.
A member of the Church's General Synod said under his tenure the Church had been allowed to become too liberal.
The editor of the Church Times said the internal disputes within Dr Williams's own church were probably what had "dragged him down".
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu
Dr Sentamu said his partnership with Dr Williams over the past six years had been the most creative period of his ministry and he had received news of his resignation "with great sadness" ."The last decade has 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.
"His stepping down to pursue something he dearly loves - teaching and writing - is received with gratitude, as this will continue to be a blessing to the Church."
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster the Most Rev Vincent Nichols
"In the last three years I have grown to appreciate more and more the fine qualities of Archbishop Rowan: His kindness, his sharp intellect, his dedication to striving for harmony between peoples, especially within the Christian family, his courage and his friendship...
"I thank him for all the service he has given, recalling particularly his warm welcome to Pope Benedict at Lambeth Palace, a visit reciprocated with similar joy just last week."
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks
Lord Sacks said Dr Williams had served "with great distinction, integrity, courage and grace".
"It has been an honour to work alongside him over the past decade and I consider it a particular privilege to call him not just a valued colleague in faith, but a true friend.
"The personal bond we have built and sustained over many years has been a source of strength and a symbol of how people of different faiths can come together as strangers and part as friends."
The Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan
"He is a deeply Christian man, both humble and holy, always approachable and never standing on ceremony...
"He has worked tirelessly over the past decade to hold the Anglican Communion together, taking very seriously the views of those who differ from him. He has tried to encourage everyone to work together, rather than to pursue their own agendas, and that is always a difficult task.
Dr Morgan said Wales had been particularly proud of Dr Williams.
"No doubt, being Archbishop of Canterbury has been a gruelling job for him and I expect he'll now be looking forward to returning to reading, writing and lecturing."
Church of England General Synod member Alison Ruoff
"Under Archbishop Rowan's tenure, the Church has really gone in a most liberal direction...
"Many, many churches have gone away from Bible truth and that's really to the detriment not only of the Church of England but also to the detriment to the nation...
"He's a kind, wise, warm, godly man, but had he actually stood up and been counted as a leader, I think we would be in a very different place in the Church of England from where we are now, and that is thoroughly regrettable."
Prime Minister David Cameron
"As a man of great learning and humility, he has guided the church through times of challenge and change," the prime minister said.
"He has sought to unite different communities and offer a profoundly humane sense of moral leadership that was respected by people of all faiths and none.
"As prime minister, I have been grateful for his support and advice and for the work he has done around the world, particularly in Africa where he has taken such a close interest in the Sudan."
Labour leader Ed Miliband
"He has been an outstanding leader of the church in England and in the wider Anglican Communion in challenging times," he said.
"He has friends on every continent, and has played a vital role in building friendships across faiths and denominations.
"He has done what he said he would do which is to challenge the imagination of our country," Mr Miliband said, adding that he hoped Dr Williams would continue to do so in his new role.
Head of the Progressive Conservatism Project at think tank Demos, Max Wind-Cowie
"His period of leadership over the Anglican Church has been marked by a real lack of leadership on a range of theological subjects - from the issue of women to gay priests...
"Dr Williams has shown himself to be incapable of holding the communion together both domestically here in the UK and globally, and I think his time in office has done a lot of damage to the Anglican communion."
Mr Wind-Cowie said one of the most difficult problems for many Anglicans was the extent to which Dr Williams had allowed bishops in the House of Lords to pursue "such a divisive line" on issues such as welfare.
Church Times editor Paul Handley
"It's probably right that his worth won't be appreciated till he's out of office...
"The difficulty is he's come to the post at a time when the Church is at its most fractious and has not the sort of personality to bang heads together or throw his weight around...
"He is good because he is extraordinarily thoughtful and at times this has been his undoing because as an intellectual, people have said 'well he's difficult to follow - difficult to understand'. I find that quite surprising because he's also very approachable...
"I think he's found relations with the rest of the world much easier than coping with the different factions within his own church."
Director of Mission and Public Affairs for the Church of England Dr Malcolm Brown
Dr Brown praised Dr Williams for doing "an absolutely amazing job, in impossible circumstances".
"Yet what strikes one about Rowan is his amazing resilience and the fact that he's almost seemed to enjoy it and lost none of his humanity and humility...
"It's a sad day for me, as I've been very fond of him and enjoyed working with him. I'm glad he's going to something where he will continue to flourish, he's got so much to give to public life and he will continue to do so I am sure."
Bishop of Liverpool the Rt Rev James Jones
Bishop Jones said Dr Williams had served the Church, Britain and the Anglican Communion "tirelessly, courageously and beyond the call of duty".
"His visits to the diocese of Liverpool showed his pastoral sensitivity and his exceptional ability to engage a wide range of people in the debate about the Christian faith," he said.
"The House of Bishops greatly appreciates his outstanding gift of leading them in teaching the faith at a deep level."
--------------------------------
The Washington Post at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/rowan-williams-to-stand-down-as-archbishop-of-canterbury-leader-of-worlds-anglicans/2012/03/16/gIQANn22FS_story.html
Rowan Williams to stand down as archbishop of Canterbury, leader of world’s Anglicans
Dave Thompson/AP - Kate Middleton and and Britain's Prince William hold hands during the wedding service at Westminster Abbey, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, London, Friday April 29, 2011.
Williams, 61, renowned for his formidable learning, announced Friday he will take up a new post as master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Rowan Williams: from least loved to cleverest man in the Church of England
The archbishop of Canterbury's views on female and gay clergy caused hostility but his intelligence was undeniable
Rowan Williams's sublime confidence in his own intelligence has led to some of the crises that have marked his decade as archbishop of Canterbury. Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian
It is not every archbishop of Canterbury who would invite a comedian, even a fellow believer like the standup Frank Skinner, to Canterbury Cathedral to discuss faith, football and the evil forces of new atheism in front of a live audience.
But the very clever, very devout, Welsh grammar-school boy Dr Rowan Douglas Williams – described on Friday by one of his many supporters as a "turbo-charged Carey" in reference to his predecessor – has never been afraid of generating headlines or ruffling feathers.
Not everyone would agree with the views of his own children, one of whom was once overheard describing his father as the cleverest man in Europe. But there are few who would challenge the claim that the bishop, poet and theologian who speaks five languages is the cleverest man in the Church of England.
But his intelligence – or, rather, his sublime confidence in his intelligence – has led directly to some of the crises that have marked his tumultuous decade as leader of a global Anglican communion sharply divided on issues of sexuality and gender.
In his youth, Williams was known for his radical views. He was closely associated with the non-violent protests against cruise missiles. In the 1980s, he considered leaving the church over its treatment of gay clergy, and even wrote the definitive case for recognising faithful, committed gay relationships in the church: The Body's Grace.
Instead of leaving, however, Williams neatly distanced himself from the Church of England by becoming archbishop of the independent Church of Wales, where he knowingly ordained gay men.
If he wanted to stay in the Anglican fold, the move across the border was his only choice; under George Carey's hand, the Church of England had become distinctly hostile to Williams's highly intellectual, libertarian views. "Williams was unquestionably one of the least loved bishops in England and Wales," a friend said.
But while his views were controversial, his intelligence and spirituality were undeniable. The synod could not deny that he stood head and shoulders above every other contender to follow in Carey's footsteps.
The first archbishop of Canterbury to brighten Lambeth Palace by introducing teenagers to its corridors, Williams had the misfortune to be rising up the ranks at a time when the church was pulling itself apart over female and gay clergy.
On the former, he was triumphant. Thanks to his efforts there will be women bishops soon. But his attempts to devise a formula to placate both advocates of female bishops, and those in the church who refuse to have anything to do with such appointments, have had limited success.
On the issue of gay clergy he has acted in ways that many find hard to forgive.
The openly homosexual Jeffrey John, the dean of St Alban's, had been a friend of Williams for many years when the latter acceded to the seat in Canterbury. The two men had released a joint pro-gay statement after the 1998 Lambeth conference.
Among Williams's first acts on entering Lambeth was to remove the name of his old friend from Carey's blacklist of clergy who would never become bishops. He put John's name forward for the relatively modest role of bishop of Reading, knowing this was a red rag to the conservative evangelicals, who had opposed his ordination from the start. But he failed to anticipate the intensity of the furore.
The crisis eventually hit such a peak that Williams, whose grand vision for a universal church takes priority over any conflict with what he sees as his duty of truth, backed down.
John was forced to withdraw his candidacy and Williams was badly damaged: if John had been forced to resign for views Williams shared, the evangelicals pointed out, why was one unfit for the bishopric of Reading while the other continued in Canterbury?
Much of Williams's time as archbishop was devoted to trying to hold the diverse churches within the Anglican communion together despite the bitter dispute over homosexuality that put conservative and growing African churches at odds with liberal churches in the United States and Canada.
Williams also caused a political storm in 2008 by suggesting that Islamic sharia law could have a role in Britain in settling some disputes. The ensuing frenzy in some quarters ignored the fact that Islamic principles were already used to settle some disputes.
The archbishop gained the support of Lord Phillips, then the senior judge in England, who said there was "no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution".
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A video is found at the Guardian at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-archbishop-canterbury-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
Rowan Williams to step down as archbishop of Canterbury - video
Rowan Williams announces his intention to resign as archbishop of Canterbury at the end of the year. Williams, 61, will return to academia, taking up a new post in January as master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. His 10 years as archbishop have been notable for a growing schism in the Anglican church which he has failed to halt
- Rowan Williams resigns as archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams is to step down as archbishop of Canterbury at the end of 2012 to take up a university position at Cambridge
- Archbishop of Canterbury honoured as 'God's apostle for our time'
- Rowan Williams: from least loved to cleverest man in the Church of England
- -----------------------------
From the Daily Mail at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2115851/Rowan-Williams-resigns-Archbishop-Canterbury-day-ahead-gay-marriage.html
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Rowan Williams has announced he is stepping down as Archbishop of Canterbury after a turbulent decade in office.
The leader of the 77 million-strong Anglican
Church will stand down at the end of the year and is tipped to be replaced by
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, who would be the first black holder of the
prestigious office.
Dr Sentamu has been made the bookies'
favourite to succeed him but some say that he could be considered too right-wing
to get the job.
It came as the Government gave the go-ahead
for gay marriage in Britain and Dr Williams' tenure has been marked by a
bruising war between liberals and traditionalists in the Church of England and
the wider Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality.
Dr Williams said his successor would need the 'constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros.'
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FOR VIDEO
His website says he will become Master of
Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January
2013.
Explaining his reasons for leaving, Dr
Williams said: 'At the end of this year I will have been 10 years in post as
Archbishop and just over 20 years as a bishop - that is part of it, feeling that
after 10 years it is proper to pray and reflect and review your
options.
'It has been an enormous privilege being
Archbishop of Canterbury, you are given access to the life of churches worldwide
in a really unique way.
'I think there must be very few jobs where you
have quite that degree of open doors for you.'
David Cameron has paid tribute to Dr Williams
for his 'dedicated service' as Archbishop.
'As a man of great learning and humility, he
has guided the church through times of challenge and change,' the Prime Minister
said.
'He has sought to unite different communities
and offer a profoundly humane sense of moral leadership that was respected by
people of all faiths and none.
'As Prime Minister, I have been grateful for
his support and advice and for the work he has done around the world,
particularly in Africa where he has taken such a close interest in the
Sudan.'
Dr Williams said this morning that he 'deeply'
treasured his connection with the Diocese of Canterbury.
He said he did not believe that Christianity
was losing the battle against secularisation in Britain.
'I think there is a great deal of interest
still in the Christian faith,' he said.
'Although I think there is also a lot of
ignorance and rather dim-witted prejudice about the visible manifestations of
Christianity, which sometimes clouds the discussion.
'I don't think that there is somehow a single
great argument that the Church is losing.'
He added: 'What I think slightly shadows the
whole thing is this sense that there are an awful lot of people now of a certain
generation who don't really know how religion works, let alone Christianity in
particular, and that leads to confusions, sensitivities in the wrong areas -
'does wearing a cross offend people who have no faith or non-Christians?' well I
don't think it does.
'But people worry that it will.
'That is partly because there is a slight tone
deafness about how religious belief works.
'Yes, there is a challenge and yes, the
Church's public role is more contested than it used to be, and yes, we have to
earn our right to speak more than perhaps was once the case but that is probably
good for us.'
He said that there were a number of
'watersheds' this year, such as the forthcoming vote by the General Synod, the
National Assembly of the Church of England, on whether to give final approval to
legislation introducing women bishops.
This has led to several years of tortuous negotiations and the
departure of some Anglican bishops to the Catholic Church.
'A number of what I call watersheds seemed to
make this a reasonable moment, at least, to think about moving on,' he
said.
'When a possibility arrived that looked
credible and attractive, it seemed right to think about it.'
He added that the next Lambeth Conference of
Anglican bishops from around the world is in 2018.
Leaving at the end of the year would give his successor time to prepare.
'Crisis management is never a favourite
activity, I have to admit, but it is not as if that has overshadowed
everything.
'It has certainly been a major
nuisance.
'But in every job that you are in there are
controversies and conflicts and this one isn't going to go away in a
hurry.
'I can't say that it is a great sense of "free
at last".'
Asked about the worst aspects of his job as
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Williams said: 'The worst aspects of the job, I
think, have been the sense that there are some conflicts that won't go away,
however long you struggle with them, and that not everybody in the Anglican
Communion or even in the Church of England is eager to avoid schism or
separation.
'But I certainly regard it as a real priority to try and keep people in relationship with each other.'
Dr Williams has been at the heart of the
debate over gay marriage and said last month that the law has no right to legalise same-sex
marriage.
‘If it is said that a failure to legalise
assisted suicide – or same-sex marriage – perpetuates stigma or marginalisation
for some people, the reply must be, I believe, that issues like stigma and
marginalisation have to be addressed at the level of culture rather than law,’
he said.
David Cameron would be acting like a
‘dictator’ and overruling the Bible if he legalises gay marriage, Dr John
Sentamu also warned.
He told the prime minister in January that he
will face a rebellion if he pushes ahead with plans to allow fully-fledged gay
marriages.
Favourite Dr Sentamu, is dubbed by some as 'cleric of the people', he is known for his high-profile interventions.
In 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe's rule, vowing never to wear the symbol of his office again until the Zimbabwe president had been removed from power.
Dr Sentamu also once pitched a tent and camped in York Minster for a week, foregoing food, in solidarity with those who had suffered in the Middle East conflict.
The Archbishop has gained a reputation for supporting the armed forces - sky-diving to raise money for families of servicemen wounded or killed in Afghanistan - and for speaking out against bankers and traders responsible for the financial crisis.
Dr Sentamu, said today: 'It is with great
sadness that I received the news that the Archbishop of Canterbury will be
stepping down at the end of this year.
'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.'
The hot favourite to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury and first black leader of the Anglican Church has become well known for his strong opinions on the state of British society.
Dr Sentamu, pictured right, the sixth of 13 brothers and sisters, and a former barrister and judge, came to the UK in 1974 having fled Uganda where he was a critic of the dictator Idi Amin.
Dubbed by some as 'cleric of the people' he has most recently had a public row with the Government over gay marriage, accusing David Cameron of acting like a ‘dictator’ and overruling the Bible if he chose to legalise it.
He attracted controversy - and racist emails - when he spoke out against this issue.
Recently he also launched a tirade against Britain's financial institutions and bankers for their role in the collapse of the UK economy.
Using the words of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, he said: 'Banks are more dangerous than a standing army. They can destroy individuals, communities and nations.'
Famously in 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe’s rule, vowing never to wear the symbol of his office again until the Zimbabwe president had been removed from power.
He has also pitched a tent and camped in York Minster for a week, and sky-dived to raise money for families of servicemen wounded or killed in Afghanistan.
In an attack on England he also argued the country must do more to mark St George’s Day on April 23, warning a failure to do so would lead to greater political extremism.
Dr Sentamu’s enthronement in 2005 featured a ceremony with African singing and dancing and contemporary music, with the cleric playing African drums during the service.
Such is his popularity in his archdiocese of York that he was named Yorkshire Man of the Year in 2007.
As Bishop of Stepney in east London, Dr Sentamu acted as an adviser to the inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. He has also campaigned against guns, knives, drugs and gangs.
Dr Sentamu is married with two grown-up children and two grown-up foster children.
Rowan Williams announces resignation day after government gives the go-ahead for gay marriage ... so will Britain now have its first black Archbishop of Canterbury?
- Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu is tipped to replace him when he leaves at the end of the year
- 'It has been an enormous privilege being Archbishop of Canterbury, you are given access to the life of churches worldwide in a really unique way,' he said
- Despite waning congregations he believes that the church is not losing popularity just that too many 'don't know how religion works'
- PM David Cameron expresses gratitude to Dr Williams for his 'support and advice' while in Downing Street
- My successor will need the 'constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros,' he said
- He will become Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge from January 2013
Rowan Williams has announced he is stepping down as Archbishop of Canterbury after a turbulent decade in office.
Dr Williams said his successor would need the 'constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros.'
Past and future? Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, left,
is now tipped to replace Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, right, who
announced his departure this morning
More...
'The privilege is that you are taken into the
heart of the local church's life for a few days, you see what really matters to
people in parishes, schools and prisons and hospices and so forth.
Crowning moment: Dr Williams married Prince William and
Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29 last year in front of
millions across Britain and the world
Controversial: Dr Williams has resigned just weeks after
saying that a new marriage law for gay couples would amount to forcing unwanted
change on the rest of the nation
Leaving at the end of the year would give his successor time to prepare.
Maverick: The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu is a
seen both as a visionary and controversial character who is known for stunts
like sky-diving with the Red Devils, pictured in 2008, as well as cutting up his
dog collar on live TV
'But I certainly regard it as a real priority to try and keep people in relationship with each other.'
WHO IS IN THE RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT ARCHBISHOP?
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu is the
clear favourite (11/8).
He is often in the news whether he is sky-diving for charity, standing up for Britain's armed forces or campaigning on international issues.
Famously in 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe and vowed never to wear one again until he stands down.
Other possible contenders to replace Dr Williams include Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London (5/2).
Dr Chartres, 64, who is close to members of the Royal Family, gave the address at the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year and is known for campaigning on environmental issues.
Liverpool-born the Rt Rev Nick Baines, 54, Bishop of Bradford, is also viewed as a contender for the post (8/1)
He is often in the news whether he is sky-diving for charity, standing up for Britain's armed forces or campaigning on international issues.
Famously in 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe and vowed never to wear one again until he stands down.
Other possible contenders to replace Dr Williams include Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London (5/2).
Dr Chartres, 64, who is close to members of the Royal Family, gave the address at the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year and is known for campaigning on environmental issues.
Liverpool-born the Rt Rev Nick Baines, 54, Bishop of Bradford, is also viewed as a contender for the post (8/1)
Favourite Dr Sentamu, is dubbed by some as 'cleric of the people', he is known for his high-profile interventions.
In 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe's rule, vowing never to wear the symbol of his office again until the Zimbabwe president had been removed from power.
Dr Sentamu also once pitched a tent and camped in York Minster for a week, foregoing food, in solidarity with those who had suffered in the Middle East conflict.
The Archbishop has gained a reputation for supporting the armed forces - sky-diving to raise money for families of servicemen wounded or killed in Afghanistan - and for speaking out against bankers and traders responsible for the financial crisis.
'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.
DR JOHN SENTAMU: THE BELIEFS OF THE SKY-DIVING UGANDAN REFUGEE AND 'CLERIC OF THE PEOPLE'
The hot favourite to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury and first black leader of the Anglican Church has become well known for his strong opinions on the state of British society.
Dr Sentamu, pictured right, the sixth of 13 brothers and sisters, and a former barrister and judge, came to the UK in 1974 having fled Uganda where he was a critic of the dictator Idi Amin.
Dubbed by some as 'cleric of the people' he has most recently had a public row with the Government over gay marriage, accusing David Cameron of acting like a ‘dictator’ and overruling the Bible if he chose to legalise it.
He attracted controversy - and racist emails - when he spoke out against this issue.
Recently he also launched a tirade against Britain's financial institutions and bankers for their role in the collapse of the UK economy.
Using the words of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, he said: 'Banks are more dangerous than a standing army. They can destroy individuals, communities and nations.'
Famously in 2007 he cut up his dog collar on live television in a dramatic protest against Robert Mugabe’s rule, vowing never to wear the symbol of his office again until the Zimbabwe president had been removed from power.
He has also pitched a tent and camped in York Minster for a week, and sky-dived to raise money for families of servicemen wounded or killed in Afghanistan.
In an attack on England he also argued the country must do more to mark St George’s Day on April 23, warning a failure to do so would lead to greater political extremism.
Dr Sentamu’s enthronement in 2005 featured a ceremony with African singing and dancing and contemporary music, with the cleric playing African drums during the service.
Such is his popularity in his archdiocese of York that he was named Yorkshire Man of the Year in 2007.
As Bishop of Stepney in east London, Dr Sentamu acted as an adviser to the inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. He has also campaigned against guns, knives, drugs and gangs.
Dr Sentamu is married with two grown-up children and two grown-up foster children.
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