Sunday, March 29, 2009

Rochester Rocks Off

News out and about today, e.g. Thinking Anglicans, that the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir Ali, will leave his diocese for the vaguely worded task press-released as follows:

"Bishop Michael is hoping to work with a number of church leaders from areas where the church is under pressure, particularly in minority situations, who have asked him to assist them with education and training for their particular situation. Details of this arrangement are still being worked out."

Clearly a case of 'watch this space' ... cause the Bishop of Everywhere may appear there. The wickedly cynical in the blogosphere are already connecting him with GAFCON stuff, ordaining chaps as bishops etc. But that shows how unable people are these days to read a text in that old fashioned 'plain' way in which words mean what they say and say what they mean. 'Church under pressure, particularly in minority situations' speaks to me of the world of Islam (Nazir Ali's speciality) rather than, say, North America.

What do you think?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

'"Church under pressure, particularly in minority situations' speaks to me of the world of Islam (Nazir Ali's speciality) rather than, say, North America."
I think it's been suggested that Nazir-Ali will return to Pakistan - if so, well done good and faithful servant, because his life was threatened there by Muslims years ago. But maybe it is a larger picture. North American Anglican realignment is pretty much underway. It's no secret that Nazir-Ali is deeply disappointed with the drifting non-leadership (or liberal leadership by stealth) of Rowan Williams. Perhaps he will prove to be an intellectual and moral rallying point to the Global South in a way that Bob Duncan couldn't and Peter Jensen wouldn't.

Peter Carrell said...

It will be one of the most interesting stories of future Anglicanism!