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Across the country, numerous welcomed the selection of the first ever woman senior bishop of Canterbury. Following generations of female members striving for positions of authority within the religious institution, a woman will now hold the most senior position in the Church of England. The appointment was embraced not only because the bishop is a woman, but because she is considered a insightful, intelligent, brave, and compassionate leader.

Opposition and Concerns

Naturally, some groups voiced discontent—whether due to her sex or owing to her endorsement for the blessing of same-sex relationships. Moreover, some raised concerns about a serious safeguarding case in the past that was poorly addressed by her team in the regional church body of the capital.

Nonetheless, the bishop—while rather small in size—has resilience, which she will need. She endured a lengthy period as bishop of London, encompassing one of the most contentious regions in the country regarding female priests and bishops. It is estimated that one in five parishes in the city have adopted measures to restrict women from leading congregations or blessing the Eucharist. The bishop has faced gender-based discrimination: in February, at the church assembly, she broke down in tears while recalling the many daily prejudices she has experienced. It is likely that some of those incidents were quite significant.

Hurdles in Authority

As archbishop of Canterbury, she will preside over a religious body that is accepting of females being priests and bishops, but at the same time, there are multiple serving senior clergy who accept her as their incoming archbishop but refuse her sacramental leadership. Furthermore, a senior clergy member does not believe that women should be in leadership over males in the church. According to data, nearly 600 churches still restrict women, where she might not be able to lead the bread and wine or preach.

In her global role as leader of the Anglican communion—including 85 million people in more than 165 nations—Bishop Sarah will also encounter challenges due to her gender. While most provinces in the global church now accept female priests and bishops, some do not. Her position on same-sex relations—she is in favour of permitting priests to sanction same-sex relationships, if they agree—is likewise criticised by some. Significant and influential groups within the Church of England and Anglican communion resist this. A conservative network, a group of traditionalist congregations, has already stated that it receives the appointment of her selection with disappointment.

Future Prospects

Thus, what lies ahead?

By the time she is enthroned as archbishop in March next year, there will be just six years before she is expected to retire at seventy years old. Yet much she can achieve in this period. To do that, it is thought she will must 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 please all sides—even with established procedures for making difficult decisions through prayerful debates and ballots at the church assembly.

This has led to a point where additional bishops are assigned exclusively for those who reject female priests or bishops. The risk will be to demand more separate leadership on other issues, such as same-sex blessings. However such a path will result in further division and increased people being not allowed to share the Eucharist collectively—something that is central of the essence to be a church. Demonstrating the courage to follow due process, take decisions, and not always making complex and costly provision for the losing side will result in not just clarity, but ultimately enhanced cohesion as well.

Not long ago, in a Church of England school, a student mentioned that a male peer had claimed that the scriptures teaches females must be under the authority of men. It would have been preferable to tell her that this is not what the Church of England believes, full stop. But I could not—because parishes are permitted to promote this. In a world with so many problems, widespread hostility, sexism, and discrimination, it would be positive for the Church of England to have an genuine voice at its helm that challenges the structures of gender bias that fuel violence and abuse against females and confronts the institutional misogyny that is currently being ignored. It is hoped that the selection of the pioneering woman archbishop of Canterbury will be a big step in the direction of this.