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Throughout the nation, many rejoiced the news of the first ever woman archbishop of Canterbury. Following generations of women seeking for leadership roles within the church, a woman will now hold the highest role in the Anglican Church. This selection was embraced not only because the bishop is a female, but due to the fact she is widely regarded as a insightful, knowledgeable, courageous, and compassionate leader.

Criticism and Issues

Unsurprisingly, some people voiced discontent—either due to her sex or owing to her endorsement for the approval of same-sex relationships. Moreover, a number of pointed out concerns about a serious protection incident five years ago that was not handled well under her oversight in the diocese of the capital.

However, the bishop—while rather small in stature—has great strength, which is necessary. She has survived a lengthy period as senior clergy of the capital, which covers one of the most polarised areas in the country regarding female priests and bishops. Sources suggest that 20% of churches in the city have adopted resolutions to restrict women from leading congregations or consecrating the Eucharist. She has faced misogynistic behaviour: earlier this year, at the General Synod, she broke down in tears while describing the numerous subtle slights she has endured. I would guess that a few of those incidents were not micro at all.

Hurdles in Authority

In her role as the senior bishop, Bishop Sarah will lead a religious body that is open to women serving as clergy, but simultaneously, it includes multiple serving bishops who accept her as their incoming archbishop but decline to take Eucharist from her. In addition, a senior clergy member rejects the idea that women should hold authority over males in the church. Per data, around six hundred parishes still limit women, where she might not be able to preside over the Eucharist or preach.

As international leader as leader of the worldwide Anglican church—comprising eighty-five million people in over 165 nations—Bishop Sarah will additionally face difficulties because of her gender. Although most provinces in the global church now accept female priests and bishops, a few refuse to. Her stance on same-sex relations—she is in favour of permitting priests to bless gay unions, provided they consent—is likewise opposed by certain factions. Major and influential factions within the Anglican Church and Anglican communion oppose this. A conservative network, a alliance of conservative churches, has already stated that it receives the news of her selection negatively.

The Path Forward

Thus, what lies ahead?

When Bishop Sarah is enthroned as archbishop in March the coming year, she will only have a limited time before she is expected to retire at seventy years old. There is nonetheless much that can be accomplished in that time. To do that, I believe she will need to show leadership that takes the institution in a defined path. Historically, the rallying cry has been unity, and leaders have struggled to decide to please all sides—even with established procedures for making difficult decisions through prayerful debates and ballots at General Synod.

This has led to a point where extra bishops are assigned solely for those who do not accept female priests or bishops. The temptation will be to demand further alternative episcopal oversight on additional matters, such as LGBT rites. However such a path will result in further division and more people being unable to share the bread and wine collectively—an act that is central of what it means to be a church. Demonstrating the bravery to follow due process, take decisions, and avoid making complicated and costly accommodations for the losing side will bring not just clear direction, but ultimately greater unity as well.

Recently, in a Church of England school, a young woman mentioned that a boy had claimed that the scriptures says women must be subordinate of males. It would have been preferable to tell her that this is not what the Church of England believes, period. Yet I could not—as churches are allowed to teach this. Given today’s society with so many problems, so much hatred, sexism, and racism, it would be beneficial for the Anglican Church to have an authentic leader at its helm that calls out the structures of gender bias that fuel violence and abuse against women and addresses the institutional misogyny that is presently being ignored. Hopefully that the appointment of the pioneering woman archbishop of Canterbury will be a significant move towards this.