Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, sidelined by new global Anglican movement

From the Telegraph (UK):

By Joanna Corrigan and Martin Beckford

Last Updated: 12:41AM BST 30/06/2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been sidelined by a new orthodox movement which claims to represent almost half of the world's 80 million Anglicans.

Leaders of the organisation, that styles itself as a fellowship of confessing Anglicans, said Dr Rowan Williams would just be "recognised for his historic role" as the head of the worldwide Communion.

They added that in the "post-colonial reality" of a Church dominated by traditionalists in developing countries rather than England, he would no longer be the sole leader.

Organisers of the movement, which was formally announced at the end of the Gafcon summit in Jerusalem, also failed to mention the Archbishop of Canterbury in their declaration of the 14 central tenets.

They insist they have not declared a complete schism within the Church over their opposition to the liberal "re-writing" of the Bible, which has seen bishops in North America and Canada consecrate openly gay clergy and bless same-sex unions.

But their movement poses a direct challenge to Dr Williams as it will lead to a new Council of Primates – leaders from Church provinces around the world – and a separate province in North America and Canada to rival the "false Gospel" taught by liberal churches.

In addition, its clergy will only use the traditional 1662 Book of Common Prayer, ignoring more recent interpretations, and will train its own priests in hardline theological colleges.

The announcement puts the Archbishop under increasing pressure ahead of a meeting of the General Synod, the Church of England's governing body, on Friday where he is already due to face a row over the introduction of women bishops.

Gafcon leaders are also in London this week for a meeting at which hundreds of clergy could sign up to the new movement.

But Dr Williams would not comment on the development, which some claim is the most significant in the Church since the Reformation.

The Anglican Communion also refused to comment.

But the Very Rev Colin Slee, the Dean of Southwark, said: "This is contrary to the entire tradition on which the Church of England was founded."