Preparing for schism.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been talking about his forthcoming meeting with the American orthodox Episcopalians. It's clear which side he is on.

The American Church has “pushed the boundaries” in terms of decision-making, stated the spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion in an interview with a Dutch newspaper.
“It has made a decision that is not the decision of the wider body of Christ,” Archbishop Rowan Williams told Nederlands Dagblad.

His arguments do not seem to amount to much more than: not everyone interprets the bible in the same way, the debate must not be dominated by a radical agenda and everyone should be getting along. The subtext appears to be that the orthodox party will have to find a way to tolerate homosexual priests so that all the problems will disappear.

The problems are unlikely to vanish, however, because this is not a policy debate where compromises can be attained through careful wording of documents; it is a theological debate over issues of conscience.

On one thing the Archbishop is correct. A schism will lead to many legal battles especially over property.

Meanwhile, the Russians are coming.