🔗 Share this article

Across the nation, numerous rejoiced the news of the first ever female senior bishop of the Church of England. Following centuries of female members striving for positions of authority within the religious institution, a woman will now hold the most senior role in the Anglican Church. This selection was embraced not only because the bishop is a woman, but due to the fact she is considered a wise, intelligent, courageous, and compassionate leader.

Criticism and Concerns

Unsurprisingly, some people expressed displeasure—either due to her sex or because of her support for the approval of same-sex relationships. Moreover, some pointed out worries about a significant protection case in the past that was not handled well by her team in the diocese of London.

Still, Bishop Sarah—while rather small in size—has resilience, which she will need. She endured seven years as bishop of London, encompassing one of the most polarised regions in the country regarding women in clergy roles. It is estimated that 20% of parishes in London have adopted resolutions to restrict women from serving as vicars or consecrating the bread and wine. The bishop has faced sexist actions: earlier this year, at the church assembly, she broke down in tears while describing the numerous subtle slights she has endured. It is likely that some of those incidents were quite significant.

Challenges in Authority

In her role as the senior bishop, Bishop Sarah will preside over a religious body that is accepting of females serving as priests and bishops, but simultaneously, it includes seven current bishops who accept her as their new leader but would not personally receive communion from her. Furthermore, a senior clergy member rejects the idea that females should hold authority over men in the religious institution. According to data, nearly 600 churches still restrict female clergy, where it may be impossible for her to lead the bread and wine or preach.

In her global role as head of the Anglican communion—comprising eighty-five million members in over 165 nations—she will additionally face challenges because of her gender. Although most provinces in the Anglican communion now accept female priests and bishops, some refuse to. Her stance on same-sex relations—she supports allowing priests to sanction gay unions, provided they consent—is also criticised by some. Major and influential factions within the Anglican Church and Anglican communion oppose this. A conservative network, a alliance of conservative churches, has already announced that it views the appointment of Bishop Sarah’s selection with sorrow.

The Path Forward

Thus, how will this all play out?

When she is formally installed as archbishop in spring the coming year, she will only have 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 show guidance that takes the institution in a defined path. Historically, 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 the church assembly.

Such an approach has led to a situation where extra clergy are assigned exclusively for congregations who reject female priests or bishops. The risk will be to ask for further separate leadership on other issues, such as LGBT rites. But such a path will lead to more fragmentation and increased members 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 bravery to follow due process, make rulings, and not always making complex and expensive accommodations for the losing side will result in not only clear direction, but in the end enhanced cohesion too.

Recently, while visiting a Church of England educational institution, a student stated that a male peer had claimed that the scriptures teaches women need to be under the authority of males. It would have been preferable to explain that this is not what the Church of England holds, period. Yet that was not possible—as churches are permitted to teach this. Given today’s society with numerous issues, so much hatred, misogyny, and racism, it would be positive for the Anglican Church to have an authentic leader at its top that challenges the structures of gender bias that drive harm against women and addresses the systemic sexism that is currently being overlooked. It is hoped that the selection of the first female senior bishop will be a significant move in the direction of that goal.