Turbulent Priests
I expect he was expecting it.
Rowan Williams is too experienced a public figure to have imagined that his recent editorial in the left-leaning New Statesman magazine would have been received without a storm.
And a storm there was. Media reaction, thanks to a little selective coverage, was instant and loud. The left celebrated, the right seethed, and the New Statesman rejoiced.
A recent report on the political activity of the Archbishops of Canterbury since 1980 shows this is far from unusual. Archbishops are hardly strangers to political controversy, intervening on issues as sensitive as urban deprivation and criminal justice, family life and armed conflict. Whether or not British politicians 'do God', the Archbishop of Canterbury certainly does politics; indeed, he is one of the few people who seem genuinely able to do that most desired (and hackneyed) of things, and 'start a national debate'.
Some people, and not just jittery secularists, get nervous about this. Isn't the Archbishop's call primarily to proclaim the Gospel?
Well, yes it is; but it is a worryingly narrow conception of the Gospel that fails to see 'politics' - how we as a society treat the poor and the prisoner, the child and the 'enemy' - as falling under its concerns. As the theologian Oliver O'Donovan has written, 'rule out the political questions and you cut short the proclamation of God's saving power; you leave people enslaved where they ought to be set free from sin - their own and others.'
This has long been understood by Christians in Britain. Despite the heavily cultural tone of the King James Bible 400th anniversary celebrations this year, it is reasonable to say that the Bible has been the single most influential political text in British history. As Freedom and Order, a new book on the subject, argues, the Bible's influence on our commitment to political equality, toleration, justice, freedom, and democracy, not to mention the very idea of 'England' and 'Britain', is almost incalculable.
This does not mean the Bible has always been deployed on the side of the political angels (it hasn't). It does, however, mean that the Bible is an inescapably political book, and that we need to recognise this while, equally importantly, discerning and articulating its political message with care, humility and balance.
In this writer's opinion that is just was the Archbishop did in last week's editorial. But others may disagree.
Nick Spencer
Nick Spencer is Research Director at Theos. He will be speaking on the subject of the Bible and politics at LICC on Monday June 27, 6.30pm - 8.30pm. To book your place, visit licc.org.uk, send an email to mail@licc.org.uk or call 020 7399 9555.
Alternatively, you can view the event live online - just go to http://www.livestream.com/liccltd at 6.30pm on June 27.
Links
Turbulent Priests: The Archbishop of Canterbury in Contemporary English Politics can be downloaded here.
Freedom and Order: History, Politics and the English Bible is available here.
Comments
I would echo the words of a certain King "Who will rid us of this arrogant priest" How dare he presume he is speaking for the Christians of this country ? Most of his pontifications are the arrogance of the Anglican Church which thinks it has a supreme position in this country - which it does not. Mothing this man says is worth listening to, and he would do far far better if he shut is mouth on such matters and consentrated on doing one thing he is NOT doing - preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ with its converting, changing power to make men and women anew.
The Archbishop did a fine job with the New Statesmen edition he edited, giving voice to a range of political and spiritual viewpoints. Rowan Williams is a highly intelligent individual, and I for one am happy to have him lead my denomination. Rather than criticise him for speaking out about the damage being done to ordinary people by Government cuts, I am saddened how little we are otherwise hearing from *any* high-profile Church leaders on how much hurt is being done to our culture and society by such rushed-through policies. Their silence is shamefully deafening.
Date:
2011-06-24 19:38:52
Author:
Catherine von Ruhland