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Throughout the country, numerous celebrated the selection of the pioneering woman archbishop of Canterbury. Following centuries of female members seeking for leadership roles within the church, a woman will now hold the top position in the Anglican Church. This selection was embraced not just because the bishop is a female, but due to the fact she is considered a insightful, knowledgeable, courageous, and caring leader.

Resistance and Issues

Naturally, certain people expressed displeasure—whether due to her sex or owing to her endorsement for the blessing of LGBT unions. Moreover, some raised worries about a serious safeguarding case in the past that was poorly addressed under her oversight in the regional church body of London.

However, Bishop Sarah—while quite diminutive in size—has great strength, which will be essential. She has survived a lengthy period as senior clergy of London, encompassing one of the most divided regions in the country regarding female priests and bishops. It is estimated that 20% of churches in the city have adopted measures to restrict women from serving as vicars or consecrating the bread and wine. The bishop has faced sexist actions: earlier this year, at the General Synod, she became emotional while recalling the numerous subtle slights she has endured. One can assume that a few of those incidents were not micro at all.

Challenges in Leadership

As archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sarah will preside over a religious body that is accepting of women serving as clergy, but simultaneously, there are seven current senior clergy who welcome her as their new leader but refuse her sacramental leadership. In addition, a senior clergy member does not believe that females should hold authority over males in the religious institution. According to reports, nearly 600 churches continue to restrict female clergy, where it may be impossible for her to lead the Eucharist or deliver sermons.

As international leader as head of the worldwide Anglican church—including eighty-five million members in over 165 countries—she will also face challenges because of her gender. Although most provinces in the global church now accept women clergy, a few refuse to. Her position on same-sex relations—she supports permitting clergy to sanction gay unions, provided they consent—is also criticised by some. Major and influential factions within the Anglican Church and Anglican communion resist this. Gafcon, a group of traditionalist congregations, has publicly stated that it receives the appointment of her appointment with disappointment.

The Path Forward

Thus, what lies ahead?

By the time Bishop Sarah is enthroned as senior bishop in spring next year, she will only have six years before her retirement at seventy years old. There is nonetheless much that can be accomplished in this period. To do that, it is thought she will must show leadership that guides the institution in a defined path. In the past, the rallying cry has been cohesion, and those in charge have struggled to decide to please all sides—despite proper processes for making difficult decisions through discussions and votes at the church assembly.

This has brought to a point where additional bishops are appointed exclusively for those who reject female priests or bishops. The temptation will be to demand more separate leadership on other issues, such as same-sex blessings. But this direction will result in further division and more people being not allowed to give or receive the Eucharist collectively—an act that is at the very heart of the essence to be a church. Demonstrating the courage to follow due process, take decisions, and avoid making complex and expensive provision for the losing side will result in not only clear direction, but ultimately enhanced cohesion as well.

Not long ago, in a Anglican educational institution, a young woman stated that a boy had told her that the scriptures teaches women need to be under the authority of males. It would have been preferable to explain that this does not reflect what the Anglican Church believes, period. But that was not possible—as parishes are allowed to promote this. Given today’s society with so many problems, so much hatred, sexism, and racism, it would be positive for the Church of England to have an authentic voice at its helm that calls out the systems of male privilege that fuel violence and abuse against women and addresses the institutional misogyny that is presently being overlooked. Hopefully that the selection of the first female senior bishop will be a significant move towards that goal.