What would Jesus do?

In Times2 on November 10 there was a description of Rowan Williams' (current Archbishop of Canterbury) experience in New York on the day of 911. The description was by Rev Fred Burnham, and Rowan Williams was "due to address 22 spiritual directors from across the US in a church-owned building next to Holy Trinity, Wall Street [New York], on “the shape of a holy life”, and reached the venue, 74 Trinity Place, at 8.35am."

As events unfolded, they and a few others eventually found themselves hiding in the basement of the building they were in, all wearing makeshift facemasks to help them breathe as the air became increasingly laden with the ash and dust of the collapsing towers. As events unfol, and it becomes more and more difficlut to breathe,

Elizabeth Koenig, a friend of Rowan who teaches at New York's General Theological Seminary, now laid a hand on the Archbishop's shoulder and said: “I can't think of anyone I'd rather die with.” At that moment Burnham felt enclosed in “a circle of love” that he would never forget.

“We were bonded for life. We became comrades in the face of death. And there was in the group a total submission and resignation to the prospect of death. No fear.”

Now, it may just be me, but I can't help but be profoundly disappointed that the head of an organisation that (a) is supposed to personify God's will and compassion on Earth and (b) supposedly isn't afraid of death chooses to avoid trying to do something to help in a crisis and instead hide in a basement while leaving the emergency services to deal with the carnage above. Did it never really occur to them that they could possibly help, even if it was only offering a few words of comfort to the injured and dying?

Not only that, but as their own situation becomes more hopeless, the wilting acceptance of their fate, instead of at least trying to find their way out of the situation struck me as utterly pathetic. Perhaps I've seen too many films where the plucky hero triumphs against overwhelming odds, but I expect a lot of the clergy, and to melt so spectacularly in the face of adversity seems rather contemptible to me.

Eventually, of course, they were saved by firemen. People put their own lives in danger to save other people because it's their job, and I doubt many of them fundamentally believe that they will go to a better place if the worst happens. 

I actually rather like Rowan Williams: he seems like a thoughtful, kind and intelligent man.  But in this particular case, his response to a pretty defining experience was - to my mind - rather spineless and self-preserving, particularly compared with the bravery and self sacrifice of the NY Emergency Services; not a great day for one of God's chief representatives on the planet.