Bossless in Canterbury

If you’re tapped to be head of human resources in a new organization, you’d probably have a roll in creating the org chart.  One thing you’d want to make clear is who’s the boss.  When push comes to shove, who has the final say?  If there’s uncertainty, HR will find itself adrift among a sea of employees who need, but can’t find, direction.  Without a boss, an organizaton comes apart.  It may take a while, but it’ll happen.  The so-called worldwide Anglican Communion (Episcopal Church in America) has been proving that for several years (latest episode at Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England).  

The Anglican Communion has no boss.  There’s the Archbishop of Canterbury, but he has no power.  There’s the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, but she has no power.  It’s obvious that an organization can muddle along for centuries without a boss.  Sooner or later, however, there will be an issue that’s so big a boss is needed to resolve it.  If there’s no boss, the issue can’t be resolved, and the organization splits or disintegrates.  The issue over the ordination of gay bishops is causing that to happen in the Anglican Communion.

If one is an Anglican or Episcopalian, the structure of the Roman Catholic Church might not look so bad right now.  You might not agree with the Pope, but he’d decide this issue, and that would be that.  People might leave the church over his decision, but the church would still exist.

Anytime there’s a schismatic division in an organization, church or otherwise, it’s sad.  But when it’s clear an issue can’t be resolved, it’s time for the opposing factions to part company.  Although this may sound contradictory, division is better for the whole than staying together when the bitterness is every bit as palpable as the pain. 

The Anglican Communion began when Henry VIII started the Church of England in the 16th century because the Pope wouldn’t allow him a divorce.   So, if it weren’t for religious fracture, the Anglican Communion wouldn’t exist.  It’s just time for another one.

Some will argue that this can’t be approached like some kind of company–like an employer.  This is the church, after all, and Chrisitan unity is paramount.  It’s hard to make that argument when there’s so little Chrisitan unity to begin with. 

All organizations preach unity.  When it’s obvious that there is none, it’s better to admit it, divide things up, and get on with the work at hand.  That would be the advice of any good HR professional or employment lawyer.

When the Anglican Communion is reconstituted into two or more new communions, it would be wise to install a boss or two.  He/she doesn’t have to be as powerful as a boss like the Pope, but it’s time we Anglicans had one, regardless of which communion we end up in.