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Across England, numerous rejoiced the announcement of the first ever female senior bishop of Canterbury. After ages of women pushing for leadership roles within the church, a woman will now occupy the most senior position in the Church of England. The appointment was embraced not only because the bishop is a female, but due to the fact she is seen as a wise, knowledgeable, brave, and caring figurehead.

Opposition and Issues

Unsurprisingly, some people voiced discontent—whether due to her sex or owing to her support for the approval of LGBT unions. Additionally, some raised worries about a significant safeguarding case previously that was not handled well under her oversight in the regional church body of London.

However, the bishop—while quite small in stature—has broad shoulders, which she will need. She has survived seven years as bishop of London, which covers one of the most polarised regions in the nation regarding female priests and bishops. Sources suggest that one in five parishes in the city have passed measures to restrict female clergy from serving as vicars or consecrating the Eucharist. She has faced sexist actions: in February, at the church assembly, she became emotional while recalling the numerous subtle slights she has experienced. It is likely that some of those incidents were far from minor.

Hurdles in Leadership

In her role as archbishop of Canterbury, she will preside over a church that is open to females serving as priests and bishops, but at the same time, there are seven current bishops who accept her as their new archbishop but refuse her sacramental leadership. Furthermore, a senior clergy member does not believe that females should be in leadership over males in the religious institution. According to reports, around six hundred churches continue to limit female clergy, where it may be impossible for her to preside over the Eucharist or deliver sermons.

As international leader as head of the Anglican communion—including 85 million members in over 165 countries—she will also face challenges due to her gender. Although most regions in the global church now accept female priests and bishops, a few do not. Her stance on same-sex relations—she supports permitting priests to bless gay unions, provided they consent—is also opposed by certain factions. Major and influential groups within the Church of England and Anglican communion oppose this. A conservative network, a group of traditionalist congregations, has already stated that it views the news of her selection negatively.

The Path Forward

Thus, how will this all play out?

By the time she is enthroned as archbishop in March next year, she will only have a limited time before she is expected to retire at age 70. Yet much she can achieve in this period. For this, I believe she will need to show leadership that guides the church in a clear direction. Historically, the primary goal has been unity, and those in charge have struggled to decide to please all sides—despite proper processes 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 alternative episcopal oversight on additional matters, such as same-sex blessings. But such a path will lead to more fragmentation and more members being not allowed to give or receive the bread and wine together—an act that is central of the essence to be a congregation. Demonstrating the courage to follow due process, make rulings, and avoid providing complex and costly accommodations for those who don’t win the vote will result in not only clarity, but in the end greater unity too.

Not long ago, in a Church of England educational institution, a young woman stated that a male peer had told her that the Bible teaches women must be under the authority of men. It would have been preferable to tell her that this does not reflect what the Church of England holds, period. Yet that was not possible—because parishes are permitted to promote this. In a world with numerous issues, 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 systems of gender bias that fuel violence and abuse against females and addresses the institutional misogyny that is presently being ignored. Hopefully that the appointment of the first female senior bishop will be a significant move towards this.