From March 21: Archbishop of Canterbury

Dear Peopl of Christ Church:

We have an Archbishop!

No, it’s not worldwide-leader envy, we really do have a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who succeeds Rowan Williams, who served from 2002 to 2012. And while he has no “authority” in the usual power-over sense vis a vis the Episcopal Church in the US, he is still the symbolic head of the Anglican Communion, of which we are a part and, thereby, our Archbishop. He was “enthroned” today, and there’s an excellent BBC article that describes the service and links to a photo gallery and other info about him. here –you can also read the 40 page bulletin from the service here.
A former oil executive, he comes from a much more evangelical background than Rowan Williams, and has five children and was only ordained priest in his mid thirties—he was bishop of Durham for less than a year before being chosen Archbishop. He is said to have particular gifts in reconciliation, and he will need them. I’ve written over the years quite a bit about our place as Episcopalians in the global Anglican Church, and today, I have to say that I care both more and less than I used to (see the ecrier blog ).
I’m still trying to clean the beautiful red Tanzanian dust out of my formerly black Sunday morning shoes, and of course the people who I met there---truly brothers and sisters in faith—are part of the reason I find myself caring more about Anglicanism. At the same time, I have to say I also care less—the institutional formality of how we are related and what it means is just not part of what Anglicanism means to me. What it means is that our Holy Week services go all the way back to the early church. What it means is that worship in our own language is important. What it means is that we have a generosity of belief that encompasses disagreement on matters theological as well as political (as well as the vast majority which are both). We can also all think it’s kind of cool that he’s being officially installed by a woman (though ironically the English church doesn’t even have female bishops) and that he sat on a 1,000 year old “throne” and kissed a 1,500 year old book as part of the service. That’s our heritage over here, too. But for once I’m not going to stress over who’s in and who’s out, or who’s on what “side” of history. So I’m happy to take Archbishop Justin on those terms (and follow him @ABCJustin and check out the twitters at #ABC105)—enjoy the show!

Speaking of the show!

Don’t miss out on Palm Sunday and Holy Week! Better than a “show,” this Sunday and next week we walk through the last week of Jesus, participating in our faith in a way that is always new and always the same. Read more about those liturgies here.