Indeed. To be fair to him, I can understand why he is taking the 'keep the conversation going' line. A split in the Communion is a serious possibility, and while Africa and North America might be happy in themselves with that, the situation in the CofE itself would be pretty serious. You could argue that the entire historical and continuing basis of the CofE is a compromise between ecclesiastical conservatives and radicals - splitting along those lines is going to be very bad news for a Church that isn't growing fast. But I don't see how the two sides could conceivably be reconciled, and I don't get the impression that Dr Williams does either.

He's not someone with a reputation for plain speaking and strong leadership, but I think he does have a reputation for giving a very considered view and for seeking to understand peoples' points of view. Obviously, I'd prefer it if he built that in to a strong leading line in favour of my own perspective, which seems utterly morally right to me ... but that's precisely the evangelicals' position too. Which - coupled with the evangelical parts of the Communion being the only ones that are growing - is why I'm not very hopeful.

(And in many ways my view isn't of great import to the debate, what with me being an atheist!)