A small problem in the Anglican Communion

There’s a small problem (that I have, at least) with the Anglican Communion. I haven’t mentioned it before. But the problem is that the Prime Minister of the UK appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury and other important church officials. Yes, I know -- it’s technically the Queen who makes the appointments. And God save our Gracious Queen and all that. But it’s really the PM who chooses.

(Clarification: The Prime Minister makes only certain appointments and only in the Church of England. Still, they are stinking important appointments to the whole Anglican Communion.)

A look at church history shows that politicians and royalty appointing key church officials is often not a good thing. And it’s certainly proving to be not a good thing now.

For Tony Blair has picked Jeffery John to fill a key Church of England post. And he apparently has been quite insistent about it.

Now, I’m agnostic on whether Jeffery John is an appropriate pick. Yes, he’s gay, but apparently celibate. So I don’t think he’s disqualified on those grounds. (In short, I think the Bible addresses sexual conduct, not orientation.) Whether he has repented of any past misconduct and whether his teachings are in line with Biblical orthodoxy is another question.

But even if he’s a great appointment (as many think, but which I doubt), its timing is horrendous. The various Anglican provinces have been asked to refrain from precipitate actions until after the Eames Commission makes its report this Fall. There is already, oh, just a little *cough cough* controversy over the appointment of gays to church offices. This appointment and its timing throws gasoline on the fires of the controversy. And it makes a split of the Anglican Communion more likely. Couldn't Tony Blair at least give the Eames Commission a chance to create consensus on how to handle such things first?

Yes, yes, I know the Church of England is an established church and has been since King Henry VIII. Royalty and politicians have been making appointments throughout its history. Not all those appointments have been brilliant. Yet somehow the C of E has survived.

But seeing that process in action under Tony Blair makes me all the more glad that established churches are unconstitutional on this side of the pond.