Bishop's letters: April 03 +Graham Our New Archbishop

Archbishop Rowan Williams is likely to prove to be a remarkable gift from God to the Church and to the nation. He has a personal charisma which shows him to be both a 'holy man' and someone with the common touch.

He is warm, thoughtful, highly intelligent and prophetic. His words can touch a small gathering of parishioners. He can also speak to scholars at the highest level.

He was chosen for several reasons. First, he has the rare ability to speak in a prophetic way, addressing the issues of the day and in a manner that will be carefully listened to. He will unsettle governments. And more - he will unsettle all of us, just as God's prophets did in Old Testament times.

Secondly, he was chosen because he is passionate for God's mission to the world through the Church. I know that he greatly values the historic tradition of the church; but we will also find him enthusiastically advocating new forms of church and mission so as to win back to faith in Christ this generation. He is instinctively adventurous; he is not a safe player.

Thirdly he was chosen because he has a deep grasp of Christian faith and theology. He already has the respect of much of the world-wide church. Drawing as few are able to on both the Bible and the traditions of the Church throughout the ages he will interpret for our day what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Above all, Rowan Williams knows and loves God. A conversation with him makes that plain in no time. He is gentle and humble, open to others. He naturally stands alongside those whom our society pushes aside. He is a friend to the poor.

His enthronement sermon was full of quoteable passages. Here are two:

'We can't know fully who God is and what God gives unless we are willing to stand in the same place as Jesus, in the full flood of the divine life poured out in mercy and renewal'

'It is God in the midst of God's people who will enable me to minister - not any programme or manifesto, …so the most significant question I can ask myself in your presence about the work ahead is "What do I pray for the Church of the future?" Confidence; courage; an imagination set on fire by the vision of God the Holy Trinity; thankfulness.'

"Amen to that", many of us would reply. Archbishop Rowan needs to be allowed time to show us the marks of his episcopate without strong attacks in public, including some from those who have not first approached him personally about their concerns. He has been hurt by all this. I am confident that he will show himself to be someone who treasures the Bible and respects the prayerful mind of the Church on difficult issues.

I shall be surprised if both Church and nation are not richly blessed through our Archbishop in the years ahead.

+Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle