Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Bad news for Durham, good news for everyone (else)

Or at least, for those who would like to see N. T. Wright complete some of the various writing projects he has been working on for years. The 62-year-old Wright, Bishop of Durham, has announced that he will be retiring from the See of Durham at the end of August in order to take up a post at St Andrews University, which will give him more time for writing, especially in his long postponed major work Christian Origins and the Question of God. The most recent volume, The Resurrection of the Son of God, came out back in 2003, the same year he was installed as Bishop.

UPDATE: Clayboy has posted some thoughts on why this is actually a sad thing.

5 comments:

Anthony Douglas said...

...on the other hand, I have spoken to at least one Durham rector who found it very difficult to work under him. Perhaps this was exacerbated by the number of hats he was trying to juggle, to indulge in a mixed metaphor.

I guess the only way to really be sure is to wait and see who Rowan puts there in his place. (Or is it Sentamu?)

But yes, it will be nice to tie up those little loose ends!

Mark Stevens said...

Anthony I have also heard similar things from people in the diocese. Not necessarily Tom's fault. He has really been a Bishop to many of us around the world so I think this move would have to be a win for everyone.

byron smith said...

A joke from Durham Diocese:

What's the difference between God and Bishop Wright?

God is everywhere. Bishop Wright is everywhere but here.


So yes, point taken. My headline was really just an excuse to try to include a poor reference to one of the many series that Wright might now have time to finish once he exchanges overseeing rectors for supervising postgrads.

Mark Stevens said...

Whoops! Missed that one, sorry! :)

Matthew Moffitt said...

I was feeling melacholy about this, especially as the CofE losses a vocal evangelical from the house of bishops etc.

But maybe this way Wright will have more influence for the evangelical cause at St Andrews (by finishing his books) then he will at Durham?