The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams -- head of the Anglican Church -- announced today (March 16, 2012) that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of December, and take on the role as Master of Magdalene College, a senior position at Cambridge University.
"It has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision," Williams said in a statement.
Although the normal retirement age for Church of England bishops is 70, Williams, 61, is believed to be stepping down early due mainly to the turbulent time being experienced in the Anglican Church, amid debates about same-sex marriage and women priests.
Dr. John Sentamu -- the Archbishop of York -- has been named as the favorite for succeeding Dr. Williams, which would make him the first Black Anglican leader in history.
