Anglican leader clarifies his Radical Speech against Archbishop Williams

During a recent annual conference of conservative Anglicans, a senior Anglican figure from Australia made radical comments on the leadership of Archbishop Rowan Williams, the head of the worldwide Anglicans. Now embroiled in controversy, the Australian leader has spoken out once again to clarify his radical speech made against Archbishop Williams.

Yesterday, the Anglican Dean of Sydney, Rev Philip Jensen spoke to the 200 delegates of Reform - a conservative evaneglical’s network - on the issue of homosexual clergy ordination. Rev Jensen condemned the Archbishop of Canterbury for his liberal views regarding homosexuality, though Archbishop Williams has publicly maintained a neutral stance over gay marriage and gay ordination issues.

The UK Guardian Newspaper reported Rev Jensen’s speech in detail with a shocking headline: “Evangelicals call Williams a Prostitute”.

Quoted by the Guardian, Rev Jensen said, “That’s no good. That’s total prostitution of the Christian ministry.”

“He [Archbishop Rowan Williams] should resign. That’s theological and intellectual prostitution. He is taking his salary under false pretences.”

Responding to the controversial report, the Archbishop of Sydney’s Media Officer, Margaret Rodgers, has issued a press release on behalf of Rev Jensen, which stated that “it is obvious that the headline goes far beyond the alleged remarks.”

“He [Rev Jensen] presented his own reflections on the present state of the Anglican Church. He was not speaking on behalf of the Diocese of Sydney or the Archbishop,” she said. “In these troubled times for the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Williams is assured of the prayers of all faithful Anglicans.”

Rev Jensen later wrote a letter to the Guardian newspaper in person saying, “While I did indeed call for the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as has 'Reform', I did not call him a prostitute.”

He clarified that what he meant by “the prostitution of Christian ministry” was not directed to Rowan Williams. He just wanted to describe the situation where holders of high office in the Church of England publicly subscribe to the Church’s official set of beliefs but privately pursue a different set - while still in the pay of the Church.

He also apologised for his reckless use of language, “I regret that my rhetorically forceful language was able to be misrepresented as such a personal attack on Dr. Williams.”

In Australia, Rev Jensen’s attack on Archbishop of Canterbury has stirred up criticism. "Such an extreme and intemperate statement can only represent the person who said the words," the Primate of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Peter Carnley said, "It will be up to the general public to make their judgement as to whether it was appropriate civil or Christian behaviour."

South Sydney’s Bishop Robert Forsyth, even though he agreed with the opinion Rev Jensen wanted to put forward, he admitted that the languages that he used was inappropriate.

“However, at the same time we acknowledge that behind the dean’s colourful and forceful language are genuine concerns that the Church is dealing with,” he said. “He’s on to something, but his language is over the top.”

Amid the criticism to Rev Jensen, some Australian Anglicans expressed their support for Archbishop Williams. Melbourne’s Archbishop, Peter Watson, released a statement backing Dr Williams as “a man of great integrity and personal holiness, who has consistently upheld the Church’s traditional teaching on human sexuality”. He added, “[Dr Williams] deserves and has the full support of the Anglican Church of Victoria.”