tim chapman timc2ubhcom httpwwwguardiancoukreligionstory0276380674400html evangelicals threat new archbishop direct action threat liberal views sexuality stephen bates religious affairs correspondent tuesday october 8 2002 guardian evangelical fundamentalists last night stepped campaign oust rowan williams incoming archbishop canterbury even takes post threatening take direct action council church society church englands oldest evangelical body joined younger evangelical pressure group called reform also opposed dr williams calling recant supposedly liberal views sexuality stand following emergency meeting 167yearold society whose leaders met archbishop last week proclaimed continued opposition appointment called anglicans spurn move latest stage increasingly aggressive attempt destabilise new archbishop whose leftwing political views regarded deep suspicion conservative fringes evangelical movement evangelicals object dr williamss acknowledgement ordained gay priest something many bishops done sex outside marriage need necessarily spurned new archbishop repeatedly assured respects canons church nevertheless society said clear prefers private judgment voice scripture voice tradition common mind church focus disunity council called upon loyal anglicans pray specifically rowan williams would see error teaching change views stand said society claimed drawn action plan including calling bishops primates 70 million worldwide anglican communion archbishops canterbury leaders distance dr williamss doctrinal ethical position promised would taking steps towards appropriate direct action added dr williams remained editorial board journal called theology sexuality six months ago published articles allegedly commending homosexual behaviour despite claim society represent common mind church dr williams currently archbishop wales chosen crown appointments commission church members including evangelicals appointment endorsed prime minister queen due succeed george carey retires month formally enthroned canterbury cathedral february asked form direct action might take rev george curry societys chairman said watch space presumably could involve small minority parishes repudiating new archbishop seeking alternative oversight even demonstrations services dr williams present church england bishops hitherto largely kept heads row meeting next week discuss response evangelical extremists challenge appears grown absence robust rebuttal letter senior theologians todays guardian however repudiates evangelicals tactics calling unseemly contrary biblical teaching bbcs thought day yesterday angela tilby viceprincipal westcott house cambridge accused dr williamss opponents presumption blackmail fact thoroughly aggressive way behave attempting force issue emotional violence manipulating get way often preferable painstaking negotiation said last week dr williams said deeply saddened matters sexuality priority centrality reform church society tried give archbishop withdraw appointment since many including evangelicals urged take post archbishop believes duty god yahoo groups sponsor sell home ease httpusclickyahoocomsrpzmcktmeaamvfiaa7gsolbtm unsubscribe group send email forteanaunsubscribeegroupscom use yahoo groups subject httpdocsyahoocominfoterms tue 08 oct 2002 121441 0100 zzzzteana bashing bishop