Crossing the Tiber, Leaving a Mound of Questions

This is a fine mess, isn't it, to spectacular and gaudy to digest quickly.  Let's see:

• It seems obvious from Ruth Gledhill's splendid reporting of the General Synod's action that the senior Bishops of the Church of England were unable to prevent what they knew would be a bad outcome.  I have to wonder if ++Rowan's and +Wright's unaccountable actions and inactions about the American problem were not at least a little influenced by the awareness of the powder keg their own church had become.   As of Saturday, Gledhill was optimistic that ++Rowan's sermon would stop the mudslide; but his words went unheeded.  Fear of seeming to encourage division here, lest it occur there . . .  hmm.  Have to think about it.
• Fellowship here was broken by those who decided that having women in the episcopate was more important than anything else.  Now, as a pretty neutral observer, it seems to me that you should worry when you become willing to jettison sincere, committed, witnessing Christians for the sake of an innovation - especially an innovation about which there's brisk and unended debate. 
• Should some massive Tiber Crossing from the CoE occur, where does this leave GAFCON?  It's already been noted that the "GAFCON movement" is strongly (though not exclusively) "evangelical."
• Will the collapse be as bad as it seems it may be, or will it amount at the end to a few bishops and priests, a few more laity?  Early reports may prove exaggerated. 

Most American conservative Anglicans are frustrated with ++Rowan's leadership.  But I ask again:  can his inaction be seen in the light of this decision of Synod, a decision he seems to have wanted modified, but could not stop?  How much of the strangeness of Tom Wright's writings about GAFCON can be attributed to this looming collision? 

Comments

[Floridian]

Have not forgotten your promise to 'riffle through' +Wright's books and talk about what troubles you. Hope you haven't reconsidered because I've come to value your opinion.

[captainyips]

Will do. Big family barbecue at my place yesterday, so will catch up later this week.

[Anglicans Ablaze]

Perhaps "seems" is the key word. Anticipating almost overwhelming support for women bishops, which he himself has spoken out in favor of, he could take a position in defense of the "traditionalists."

As for the "strangeness" of Tom Wright's writings about GAFCON I don't find them strange at all. His theology has conservative Evangelicals in an uproar; as one commentator noted, his political views sound "Marxist." I suspect Wright's reputation as a Bible scholar blinds some people to the real Tom Wright. Just a thought. From my perspective his reaction to GAFCON was consistent with some of the other things he has said in the past. GAFCON represent a threat to the status quo; Wright is part of the status quo, an English bishop who may one day be translated to the See of Canterbury.