Father, Father, why hast Thou deserted me, I would want to cry to the man upstairs. I would go for some long walks, which I would use to come to terms with the fact that my formidable intellect is facing a challenge that seems beyond even its power to resolve.
Having reassured myself that it is God’s purpose to present me with precisely this task, I would begin by accepting that, in the light of developments in the US and the forthcoming debate on women bishops, the two most explosive issues facing the Anglican Communion, namely sexuality and the consecration of women, are now inextricably linked.
As a Welshman who by instinct supports a degree of antidisestablishmentarianism, I would privately welcome the opportunity to dismantle the old system of fixed parochial, diocesan and provincial boundaries and set about doing so. I would do this while ensuring that my office remained the “focus for unity” for the worldwide Church, thus making me a kind of Anglican Pope. Without any real power. Which I don’t want anyway, so that’s all right.
I would contemplate once more some of the liberal principles I had when first I took office. I would find some way of reassuring the liberals who have deserted me as I strive for truth and unity that I may still hold those views, albeit privately. I would tell them that in a deconstructed globalised Church, parishes and dioceses would be at liberty to seek episcopal and primatial oversight from almost whomever they wished. There would be room for Episcopalians and Anglicans, and everyone could focus then on promoting the message of Christ. Or Christa.
If all this failed, I would hang up my mitre, cast down my crook and become a Druid. Heaven knows, some of the press seem to think I am one already.