Former Archbishop to Provoke Controversy

George Carey is no longer the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, but he also isn't silent either. He plans to visit America where he will bless hundreds of Anglicans boycotting a bishop who supports gay rights and progressive beliefs. Critics charge that he shouldn't interfere with church debates like this.

The Telegraph reports:

Lord Carey's visit will not breach Church regulations because he is understood to have gained the permission of Bishop Lee to operate in the diocese of Virginia, but it will provide a major boost to the conservative minority in America which is demanding protection from the liberal majority. Announcing the "extraordinary service of confirmation" presided over by the former Archbishop, Canon Minns said: "This will be an occasion for celebration but also a sign of the serious brokenness of the Episcopal Church and a tragic reminder of our alienation from the ministry of our own bishop."

The Rev Richard Kirker, the general secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: "This is an insensitive and provocative trip which will cause dismay to Rowan Williams, just as it would if, when George Carey was Archbishop, his predecessor Robert Runcie had gone ahead and ordained an openly gay man as a bishop. "There are plenty of other bishops to conduct confirmations, and George Carey is doing much more. He is trying to turn the service into a needlessly provocative gesture."

I’m sure Carey knows all of the problems with his actions — and he probably just doesn’t care. I expect that he regards orthodoxy with respect to the treatment of gays trumps all other considerations, even if that means undermining the authority of the local hierarchy and adding fuel to the flames of controversy. Perhaps this will help hasten the schism of the Anglican Communion. Is that a good thing? It might be.

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• Episcopalians
• Anglicanism
• Evangelicalism
• Archbishop Rowan Williams