Although Dr. Williams (currently archbishop of Wales) is said to "read scripture seriously" and to be orthodox in his basic beliefs, some of his public statements seem to run contrary to what is said in Scripture. Fellow Church of England clergyman William Taylor, rector of St. Helens Bishopgate in London, takes public issue with him. He said of the newly appointed archbishop: "Some of his views in the area of gender and sexuality are in conflict with the Bible. He has labelled those who disagree with him as adopting an 'abstract fundamentalist' use of scripture and of applying 'narrow and crude' criteria...My hope is he will make a clear statement to the effect that his previous statements were ill-advised" (The Independent on Sunday, July 28, 2002, emphasis added).

According to the same article, William Taylor's congregation "represents a strain of evangelical belief that has been openly critical of Dr. Williams's support for the gay clergy."

Christians around the world may find some of Dr. Williams' previous public declarations rather disturbing. Consider his lecture principally about homosexuality titled "The Body's Grace" (1989): "The worst thing we can do with the notion of sexual fidelity...is to 'legalise' it in such a way that it stands quite apart from the ventures and dangers of growth and is simply a public bond, enforceable by religious sanctions...

"An absolute declaration that every sexual partnership must conform to the pattern of commitment or else have the nature of sin and nothing else is unreal and silly...If we are looking for a sexual ethic that can be seriously informed by our Bible, there is a good deal to steer us away from assuming reproductive sex is a norm, however important and theologically significant it may be" (quoted in The Guardian, July 25, 2002). An unusual view of the Bible's teachings!

The new archbishop faces several challenges within the Church of England itself. Two publicly-acknowledged gay clergymen in same sex relationships would like to see a significant increase in their numbers. But the conservative Anglo-Catholic wing of the Anglican Church speaks in terms of "we may have to walk" when they hear serious talk of the possible proliferation of gay clergy and women priests. Also, the Church of England has almost lost 1 billion pounds on ill-advised stock market investments and may face a radical financial restructuring when Rowan Williams assumes office.

The words of Times columnist William Rees-Mogg ring in English ears: "Will this be the man to bring us to our knees?"

—Sources: The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent on Sunday, The Guardian [all London].