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Across the country, numerous welcomed the announcement of the first ever female senior bishop of Canterbury. After generations of women pushing for leadership roles within the church, a female leader will now occupy the highest role in the Anglican Church. This selection was celebrated not just because the candidate is a woman, but because she is widely regarded as a insightful, intelligent, courageous, and compassionate leader.

Criticism and Issues

Unsurprisingly, certain groups expressed displeasure—whether due to the fact she is a woman or owing to her endorsement for the blessing of LGBT unions. Moreover, a number of raised worries about a serious protection incident previously that was mismanaged by her team in the regional church body of the capital.

Still, the bishop—although quite small in size—has broad shoulders, which she will need. She has survived seven years as bishop of the capital, which covers one of the most polarised regions in the nation regarding women in clergy roles. Reports indicate that one in five churches in the city have adopted measures to restrict women from leading congregations or consecrating the Eucharist. The bishop has faced misogynistic behaviour: in February, at the church assembly, she became emotional while recalling the numerous daily prejudices she has endured. One can assume that a few of those occurrences were quite significant.

Challenges in Authority

In her role as the senior bishop, she will lead a church that is accepting of females being clergy, but simultaneously, it includes multiple current senior clergy who welcome her as their incoming leader but would not personally receive communion from her. Furthermore, a senior clergy member rejects the idea that women should hold authority over males in the religious institution. Per reports, around six hundred churches continue to limit female clergy, where it may be impossible for her to preside over the bread and wine or deliver sermons.

In her global role as head of the worldwide Anglican church—including 85 million members in over 165 nations—Bishop Sarah will additionally face challenges due to her gender. Although most provinces in the Anglican communion now accept female priests and bishops, a few do not. Her stance on same-sex relations—she supports permitting priests to bless gay unions, provided they consent—is also criticised by some. Significant and powerful factions within the Church of England and global community oppose this. Gafcon, a group of conservative churches, has publicly stated that it receives the news of her selection negatively.

The Path Forward

So, how will this all play out?

By the time she is formally installed as archbishop in spring the coming year, she will only have a limited time before she is expected to retire at seventy years old. Yet a lot she can achieve in that time. To do that, I believe she will need to show guidance that guides the institution in a clear direction. In the past, the rallying cry has been unity, and those in charge have struggled to decide to agree with everyone—despite established procedures for resolving disputes through prayerful debates and ballots at General Synod.

This has led to a situation where extra clergy are assigned solely for those who reject female priests or bishops. The risk will be to ask for further alternative episcopal oversight on additional matters, such as same-sex blessings. However such a path will result in more fragmentation and more people being not allowed to share the bread and wine collectively—an act that is central of the essence to be a congregation. Demonstrating the bravery to adhere to procedures, take decisions, and avoid making complicated and expensive provision for the losing side will result in not just clear direction, but ultimately 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 need to be under the authority of males. It would have been preferable to explain that this is not what the Church of England believes, period. But that was not possible—because churches are allowed to promote this. In a world with numerous issues, widespread hatred, sexism, and discrimination, it would be beneficial for the Anglican Church to have an genuine voice at its top that calls out the systems of gender bias that fuel violence and abuse against females and addresses the systemic sexism that is presently being overlooked. It is hoped that the appointment of the first female senior bishop will be a significant move in the direction of this.