Cantuar chose to do nothing to solve the crisis and to say nothing that would actually challenge TEC and the ACofC as to their behavior in any way.  He has repeatedly made it clear that he had and has “no authority to act”—so he is left with no authority. 

OK

He has made himself irrelevant and irrelevant he will be.

I rather think the ABC has sidelined himself throughout his term. How sad when leadership could perhaps have kept us united through discipline.

He did it to himself.

The Archditherer allowed a vacuum to form where his authority once was…he can’t be too upset when something rushes in to fill it.

The Archbishop of Canterbury persuaded the Americans to remove themselves from the ACC for the time being; he also brokered a unanimous statement from the Primates at Dar es Salaam; he withheld an invitation to Lambeth 2008 from Gene Robinson and he personally attended the US House of Bishops meeting at which pressure was applied to clarify its position in the New Orleans statement.  He has embraced the idea of an Anglican Covenant and has worked to make it a reality.  He has also continued his work as a distinguished theologian and writer.  He has also continued his work as a clergyman, preaching, praying.  He has acted as a local, national and international leader, and intervened on the conservative side (for example) in relation to discrimination law proposals in the UK. 

I recognise that, next to him, I am a pygmy next to a giant, however much I disagree with him on some issues.  Ours is a relatively small denomination, but we have in Rowan Williams produced a religious leader of great stature.

And all that you recited, badman, accomplished nothing.  Being direct and decisive was what was needed.  It’s too late now.  The end is the beginning.

I admit that I laughed at your apologia, #5.  Forgive me.  Please note:

* The ACC is still staffed and run by TEC’s catspaws
* The ink wasn’t dry on the DeS statement before TEC repudiated it, for which there was no consequence
* VGR will be “at” Lambeth performing his narcissistic street theater, with all of his enablers and consecrators inside running interference
* The Anglican covenant is already watered down to the point it’s irrelevant, and the work of the heretics will surely render it a dead letter by its projected adoption in several years

This is just a partial list of ++Rowan’s bumbling incompetence and active hostility to maintenance of orthodoxy within the AC.  I do share your enthusiasm for his writings, and suggest that he immediately be given a cozy sinecure on the Welsh coast to scribble them.