From Council House To Lambeth Palace

The choice of George Carey, Bishop of Bath and Wells, to be the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury took most people by surprise, partly because he had been a bishop for only two-and-a-half years; also because he was without the social and educational advantages which those appointed to the Archbishopric have normally enjoyed.

It says a lot for Carey's character and ability that from quite humble origins in one of London's East End council estates, and a late start in university education, he should now have achieved such distinction. He has identified with the Evangelical wing of the Anglican Church, being associated also with the charismatic renewal movement which claims to have recovered gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues. He defends the truth of the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Christ. Yet in certain respects he disappoints some evangelical Anglicans, as when he led Anglo-Catholics in his diocese on a pilgrimage to a shrine of the virgin Mary at Walsingham. He considers that Evangelicals and Roman Catholics now "stand firm together for a historic faith against the insidious blood letting which extreme liberalism perpetrates on the body Christian". The Anglo-Catholic Church Union has welcomed his "orthodox stand on the Scriptures and the creeds". Carey is

also a strong advocate of women priests: he even asked priests in his diocese of Bath and Wells to consider resigning if they opposed the ordination of women.

Why should George Carey have been chosen? a question which involves the quite unscriptural procedure by which the Archbishop is appointed. Candidates are selected by a panel of bishops, priests and lay representatives, led by a government nominee. The panel proposes two names to the Prime Minister in order of preference. The Prime Minister makes the final choice, and could theoretically reject both names and ask for a re-selection. The formal appointment is made by the Queen on the Prime Minister's recommendation. In this instance it seems that the Prime Minister favoured the appointment of someone who could command considerable support within the Anglican leadership and would apply his energies to the nation's spiritual needs rather than to social and political issues. As one influential commentator put it: "What is needed is an inspiring missionary leader for a church that has lost whatever grip it had on an increasingly pagan country".

So it is the decision of Britain's Prime Minister which finally determines the spiritual leadership of the Anglican Communion, both of the English members and seventy million Anglicans and Episcopalians in 164 countries. How alien to scriptural principle and precedent! For disciples of Christ in New Testament churches of God were under the care of an elderhood which was spiritually constituted and separated from the rulers of this world (1 Cor. 2:6,7). Nor is the concept of a hierarchy seen in the leadership of the New Testament churches. Some "reputed to be pillars" there were (Gal. 2:9), but one of these described himself simply as "a fellowelder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ" (1 Pet. 5:1). The mighty apostle Paul spoke of himself as "less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8), as "the least of the apostles" (1 Cor. 15:9).

Such impressive ceremonials as the investiture of an archbishop have strong emotional appeal for many. Century-old traditions become revered. It is salutary, however, that disciples of Christ should discern the pattern of spiritual leadership in the Scriptures. God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. When the principles of God's Word are applied, there can be no liaison with the political systems of the world in regard to spiritual leadership among God's people. There will be no distinction' drawn between "clergy" and "laity". There will be no thought of hierarchic precedence within a scripturally constituted elderhood.

For many Christians the unscriptural constitution of the Anglican Church and the toleration of widely varying doctrinal views within the same communion have aroused deep spiritual concern. This has led to earnest searching of the Scriptures for a pattern of teaching to which believers may conform, and as a result associate together in spiritual service on the basis of God's Word. We should surely be satisfied with nothing less than this.

Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. (Is. 30:21).

unknown | Feb 1991
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