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Desmond Tutu criticizes Canterbury selection process
The Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey will resign his post in October. Within the next few months, his successor will be chosen by Prime Minister Tony Blair because the Church of England is an established state church.

Although not obligated to take the church's recommendations, the Crown Appointments Commission provides the prime minister with two candidates to consider. The Queen of England ratifies the decision.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu yesterday called the process "arcane" and is asking the Church of England to cut the state's "apron strings" and select its own leader.

Tutu also called for the selection process to be widened beyond England to open the possibility of an African or Asian Archbishop of Canterbury. However, Tutu is currently backing the Archbishop of Wales Rowan Williams for the job. "For my money the Archbishop of Wales really towers head and shoulders above any of the other people," Tutu said yesterday.

Conflict in the holy land:

• Israeli army reportedly blew up church | Local officials in the village of Aboud, near Ramallah, say an ancient church called Santa Barbara was destroyed on Friday night (Reuters)
  
  
• How to bless Israel | Why do we evangelicals think support for Israel is the main thing on God's list of priorities? (Richard Mouw, Beliefnet)

Christian merchandise:

• Jesus statues got game | Inspirational figurines depict Christ as sports guru for kids (San Francisco Chronicle)
  
  
• Are You Laughing With Me, Jesus? | Salt and pepper shakers resembling nun dolls, key chains with miniature Bibles, Jesus action figures and Virgin Mary tank tops are crowding retail shelves — promoted by merchants who subscribe to the credo that one person's object of devotion may be another's kitsch. (The New York Times)

Other stories of interest:

• Some Christians sure could use a sense of hummus | Doctor's book says Jesus' diet was healthier than many Americans' (The Dallas Morning News)
  
  
• Archbishop warns of resurgent bigotry | The trend towards secularism which had defined recent western history was now in retreat before resurgent religious bigotry and could also create a society whose priorities were "making the trains run on time—whether they are going to Eden or Auschwitz", according to the Archbishop of Wales. (The Guardian, London)
  
  
• My wondrous cross | John Newbury explains why he wears a cross. (The Guardian, London)

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June (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46