September 26, 2006

Yes, Minister Redux

A few folks have expressed dismay at ++Cantuar's appointment of ++West Indies (he who absented himself from Communion with Cantuar at Dromantine, and who has been trumpeting from the Global South for a while now) to the committee set up to work on the Anglican Communion Covenant. However, it is a well established principle of power politics that one can sometimes most effectively deal with problematical persons by appointing them to committees charged with addressing the problems to which they contribute by their irascibility.

It works in the parish all the time, and even though ++Rowan comes from an academic background, I think such things are well known in the realm of academia. And certainly in the Yes, Minister world to which I have alluded before! Remember how Sir Humphrey always made a point of getting Hacker deeply involved (and feeling so awfully flattered to be so) in the very matters in which he was in danger of upsetting the apple cart?

The old saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer might come into play were it not for the reluctance I have for portraying any Christian as an enemy (even if they don't accord me the same courtesy!).

— Tobias Stanislas Haller BSG

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

`reluctance I have for portraying any Christian as an enemy (even if they don't accord me the same courtesy!).'

A better summary of the problem in a nutshell I have yet to hear.

The Anglican Scotist said...

Thank you for the reminder; well put.

Anonymous said...

On the other hand it may simply be that the Archbishop is appointing a wide range of people to the committees he oversees. For every Peter Carnley a Drexel Gomez.