Glenn, I would withdraw now

Well, that didn't take long. A couple of moments ago I was reporting on the 'race' for the next Archbishop of Sydney, at that stage with a definite candidate, Bishop Glenn Davies and a likely candidate Rick Smith. But now it is all over. (But see Update below).

Thanks to my Oz correspondent I have been alerted to a website now set up to promote the confirmed candidacy of Rick Smith.

There is a video promoting Rick there. A bit slick for my taste! Still someone in Sydney knows how to video edit. (NB Rick is a great guy, he supports Rugby Union).

Anyway of great interest, partly through the video and mostly through this PDF letter of support from 'some members of Standing Committee' (22/47 able-to-express-an-opinion-of-56-in-total), we learn the following key facts about the 'establishment' of the Sydney Diocese and its commitment to Rick being the next ABS:

- a substantial bloc of the Standing Committee is publicly supporting Rick's candidacy in writing

- noting that some members of the Sydney Diocese are more important than others when it comes to influencing opinion, it is very important to recognise that the Very Rev. Philip Jensen (Dean, brother of current ABS, former candidate to be ABS) and the Rev. Dr. Mark Thompson (Principal-elect, Moore College) are among the list.

- (following up a note from a comment below) - also notable is the name of the Rev Gavin Poole, President of the Anglican Church League, which is a powerful lobbying force within the Sydney synod.

Is it conceivable that Sydney would elect an archbishop whom Philip Jensen and Mark Thompson and the ACL did not approve of?

The names signing the letter are given as follows:


Mr. Robert Bradfield..................Georges River
Rev. Canon Phillip Colgan....Georges River
Miss. Jenny Flower......................Northern
Rev. Nigel Fortescue..................Wollongong
Ven. Kara Gilbert.........................Western
Rev. Canon Sandy Grant.........Wollongong
Mr. Stephen Hodgkinson......Southern
Very Rev. Phillip Jensen.........Southern
Mr. Geoff Kyngdon......................Wollongong
Rev. Peter Lin..................................Georges River
Rev. Chris Moroney....................Southern
Mr. John Pascoe.............................Southern
Rev. Gavin Poole...........................Western
Rev. Craig Roberts......................Northern
Dr. Laurie Scandrett..................Southern
Rev. Stephen Semenchuk......Wollongong
Mr. Phillip Shirriff......................Northern
Dr. Claire Smith............................Northern
Rev. Dominic Steele...................Southern
Rev. Dr Mark Thompson.........Southern
Miss. Jane Tooher.........................Southern
Mr. Tony Willis...............................Wollongong

I would say the election is over, bar the formal speeches and the actual voting.

My advice to Bishop Glenn Davies is to withdraw now.

Unless.

There.

Are.

Signs.

Of.

A.

Sea.

Change.

Away from the Jensen approach.

Fascinatingly, the ACL is going to be praying about the election ...

UPDATE: I had not quite realised how strong a web presence +Glenn Davies campaign has.

The home page is here.

A set of videos is here.

A list of supporters is here, including Dr Michael Jensen, John Dickson, and Andrew Katay (whose blog I have just begun linking to).

The impression forming in my mind is that the 'hard conservatives' of the Diocese are lining up behind Rick Smith and the 'soft conservatives' are lining up behind +Glenn Davies.