• Last year’s predictions – how did I do?

    The UK will begin leaving the EU on 29 March 2019. It will take 10 years to leave, 10 years for it to be evident to the whole country how stupid it was and 10 years to get back in, with none of our current special measures. (Hope this prediction doesn’t come to pass but fear it will).

    Well, we didn’t begin leaving on 29 March 2019 but the clock is ticking. Failed prediction

    The only thing to make EU-positive lefty-liberals to have pause for thought will be the EU Elections in May which will result in big gains for the so-called populist right.

    Well, the populist right did well but not that well. It wasn’t the overwhelming success many predicted. And the liberal left collapsed rather than took notice. Failed prediction.

    No progress towards same-sex marriage in the Church of England, despite much clearer calls for it to happen.

    No progress but the emergence of the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England does offer some encouragement. Prediction fulfilled.

    Significant concerns in many UK dioceses about the cost of bishops, and particularly their spouses, attending the Lambeth Conference in 2020. (Over £5000 each).

    There is undoubtedly concern about this and there’s been some online comment about through the year it but not a major press scandal yet. (Any spouse going to this is complicit in homophobia and expensive homophobia at that). Prediction fulfilled.

    Elizabeth Warren / Beto O’Rourke begin to emerge as the Democratic dream ticket.

    Beto is out, Warren is still in. No dream ticket. Failed Prediction.

    Stricter legislation in connection with drone operators.

    New regulations announced. Prediction Fulfilled.

    Steps towards legalisation of cannabis under serious consideration within SNP.

    SNP did exactly as I predicted. Prediction Fulfilled.

    No referendum on Independence.

    Prediction Fulfilled

    Cyber attacks merging with terrorist attacks.

    Difficult to prove who is behind these things but they are increasingly being regarded together by the security services. New legislation adopted in USA to try to combat it. Am claiming this one as a win. Prediction fulfilled

    One of Scotland’s daily newspapers ceases print publication.

    Not yet. Not yet. Failed prediction.

3 responses to “Postcard to Rowan”

  1. Lapinbizarre/Roger Mortimer Avatar
    Lapinbizarre/Roger Mortimer

    Right on!

  2. Brother David Avatar
    Brother David

    Is he really that arrogant or just absolutely clueless?!?!

    That was certainly the one thing that jumped off the page when I read the interview.

    And it again shows his more lofty view of the episcopate than we have in the Americas, especially since many churches here are the children of TEC. He didn’t say meet with TEC, he said meet with the House of Bishops, the junior chamber in TEC.

  3. Tom Wilson Avatar
    Tom Wilson

    I am surprised that ++Rowan felt that his going to America and chastising the Episcopal Church, and specifically one Diocese for the election of a openly gay bishop would even be possible. Is he that ignorant of American history and the Revolution in 1776, where the American people rebelled at being told what to do by a leader thousands of miles away. In the North American context, the Diocesan Bishop and the Synod they minister with, are the final level of governance. The presiding bishop (ECUSA) or Primate (ACC) are there as leaders, but hold no power or authority (beyond moral and/or advisory) over any of the Diocesan Bishops that make up these provinces of the Anglican Communion. Obviously a situation that ++Rowan is not familiar with in the C of E, where he can block the appointment (not even an election) of a Diocesan Bishop within his province.

    Ultimately, this is why the Anglican Covenant will fail. While we are linked by a common heritage, as well as worship style; the governance structures of each Province of the Anglican Communion around the world are very different than the C of E and each Province’s situation is unique to their local experience. No longer is the Anglican Communion just variations of the C of E through missionaries sent out from England.

    It is too bad that ++Rowan could not be engaged as a professor at an American or Canadian seminary, where he could be exposed to a much different reality than in England and perhaps gain a greater insight into the realities of the Anglican church in North America.

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