Portrait of the schism tamer

From CNN

“There’s no beast more ferocious than two Christians who disagree.”

It's a quote I stumbled on while reading about religious conflict. I understood it better after covering the Episcopal Church’s decision to confirm the ordination of an openly gay bishop, Eugene Robinson, in 2003.

Church fights can turn vicious. This one was no exception. I saw church leaders plant false rumors about opponents; priests barge into other colleagues churches to insult them; and parishioners shout at each other like kids throwing tantrums.

The Episcopal Church is still grappling with the aftershocks of their decision to accept an openly gay bishop.

I came across a New Yorker article that gives a deft portrait of the man who was forced to referee that church conflict: Rowan Williams, the head of the Anglican Communion.

Williams has been fighting to prevent a schism in the Anglican Communion over the Episcopal Church's decision.The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, an 80-million member association of churches spanning the globe.

More here-

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/17/portrait-of-the-schism-tamer/