The Future Archbishop of the Church of England: Hurdles Facing the Groundbreaking Woman Appointment

Throughout the country, countless welcomed the announcement of the first ever woman archbishop of the Church of England. After ages of female members seeking for leadership roles within the religious institution, a female leader will now hold the most senior role in the Anglican Church. The appointment was celebrated not just because the bishop is a woman, but due to the fact she is seen as a insightful, intelligent, brave, and caring figurehead.

Criticism and Concerns

Naturally, some groups voiced displeasure—either due to her sex or because of her support for the approval of LGBT unions. Additionally, some raised worries about a significant safeguarding incident in the past that was poorly addressed under her oversight in the diocese of London.

Still, the bishop—although quite small in size—possesses broad shoulders, which will be essential. She endured a lengthy period as senior clergy of the capital, encompassing one of the most divided regions in the country regarding women in clergy roles. Sources suggest that 20% of parishes in the city have passed resolutions to restrict women from leading congregations or consecrating the bread and wine. The bishop has encountered gender-based discrimination: in February, at the church assembly, she became emotional while describing the numerous micro-aggressions she has endured. One can assume that a few of those occurrences were far from minor.

Challenges in Authority

In her role as archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sarah will oversee a religious body that is open to females serving as priests and bishops, but simultaneously, there are multiple serving bishops who welcome her as their new leader but would not personally receive communion from her. Furthermore, a senior clergy member does not believe that females should be in leadership over men in the religious institution. Per data, nearly 600 parishes still restrict female clergy, where it may be impossible for her to preside over the Eucharist or preach.

In her global role as leader of the worldwide Anglican church—including eighty-five million people in more than 165 nations—Bishop Sarah will additionally face challenges due to her sex. While the majority of regions in the Anglican communion now accept female priests and bishops, some do not. Her stance on same-sex relations—she supports permitting clergy to sanction gay unions, provided they consent—is also opposed by certain factions. Significant and powerful factions within the Anglican Church and Anglican communion oppose this. Gafcon, a group of traditionalist congregations, has already stated that it receives the news of her appointment with disappointment.

Future Prospects

So, what lies ahead?

When Bishop Sarah is enthroned as senior bishop in spring the coming year, she will only have a limited time before her retirement at age 70. Yet much that can be accomplished in this period. To do that, I believe she will need to demonstrate guidance that guides the institution in a defined path. Historically, the rallying cry has been cohesion, and those in charge have gone round in circles to agree with everyone—despite established procedures for making difficult decisions through prayerful debates and votes at General Synod.

This has brought to a situation where extra clergy are assigned exclusively for those who reject women in leadership. The temptation will be to demand more separate leadership on other issues, such as LGBT rites. But such a path will lead to further division and more members being not allowed to share the Eucharist collectively—something that is at the very heart of the essence to be a church. Demonstrating the bravery to adhere to procedures, make rulings, and avoid making complicated and expensive accommodations for those who don’t win the vote will bring not just clarity, but in the end greater unity as well.

Recently, while visiting a Church of England educational institution, a young woman stated that a boy had told her that the scriptures says females must be under the authority of males. I would have liked to tell her that this is not what the Anglican Church believes, full stop. Yet I could not—because churches are allowed to promote this. Given today’s society with numerous issues, widespread hostility, misogyny, and racism, it would be positive for the Anglican Church to have an genuine leader at its helm that challenges the structures of gender bias that fuel violence and abuse against females and addresses the institutional misogyny that is presently being overlooked. Hopefully that the appointment of the pioneering woman senior bishop will be a big step towards this.