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Across the nation, many welcomed the selection of the first ever woman senior bishop of the Church of England. Following generations of women striving for leadership roles within the church, a female leader will now occupy the most senior role in the Church of England. The appointment was welcomed not only because she is a female, but due to the fact she is considered a wise, intelligent, brave, and caring leader.

Criticism and Issues

Of course, certain groups voiced displeasure—either due to the fact she is a woman or owing to her support for the approval of same-sex relationships. Moreover, a number of pointed out worries about a serious protection case previously that was not handled well under her oversight in the diocese of London.

Nonetheless, the bishop—although quite diminutive in stature—has resilience, which will be essential. She has survived seven years as senior clergy of the capital, encompassing one of the most polarised regions in the country regarding women in clergy roles. Sources suggest that 20% of parishes in the city have passed resolutions to limit female clergy from leading congregations or consecrating the bread and wine. She has encountered gender-based discrimination: in February, at the church assembly, she became emotional while describing the many daily prejudices she has endured. It is likely that a few of those occurrences were not micro at all.

Challenges in Leadership

In her role as archbishop of Canterbury, she will oversee a religious body that is open to women being priests and bishops, but simultaneously, there are seven current bishops who welcome her as their incoming leader but decline to take Eucharist from her. Furthermore, one bishop rejects the idea that females should hold authority over men in the religious institution. Per reports, around six hundred parishes continue to limit women, where it may be impossible for her to preside over the bread and wine or deliver sermons.

In her global role as leader of the worldwide Anglican church—including 85 million people in over 165 countries—she will also face difficulties due to her sex. While the majority of regions in the Anglican communion now accept women clergy, a few do not. Her stance on same-sex relations—she is in favour of permitting clergy to bless gay unions, provided they consent—is likewise opposed by certain factions. Significant and powerful groups within the Church of England and global community resist this. A conservative network, a group of conservative churches, has already stated that it receives the appointment of her appointment negatively.

The Path Forward

So, how will this all play out?

By the time Bishop Sarah is enthroned as senior bishop in March the coming year, there will be just six years before she is expected to retire at seventy years old. Yet a lot she can achieve in that time. To do that, it is thought she will must demonstrate guidance that takes the church in a defined path. Historically, the rallying cry has been cohesion, and leaders have gone round in circles to please all sides—even with proper processes for resolving disputes through prayerful debates and ballots at General Synod.

This has led to a point where additional bishops are assigned exclusively for those who do not accept female priests or bishops. The temptation will be to ask for further separate leadership on other issues, such as same-sex blessings. However such a path will lead to further division and more people being not allowed to share the Eucharist collectively—something that is central of the essence to be a church. Having the courage to follow due process, make rulings, and avoid providing complex and expensive accommodations for the losing side will result in not only clarity, but in the end enhanced cohesion too.

Not long ago, in a Church of England school, a young woman mentioned that a boy had claimed that the scriptures says females need to be subordinate of men. I would have liked to tell her that this is not what the Anglican Church believes, full stop. Yet I could not—as parishes are allowed to promote this. In a world with numerous issues, widespread hatred, misogyny, and discrimination, it would be positive for the Anglican Church to have an genuine voice at its top that challenges the systems of male privilege that fuel harm against females and addresses the institutional misogyny that is currently being overlooked. Hopefully that the appointment of the first female archbishop of Canterbury will be a significant move towards that goal.