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Across the nation, many celebrated the selection of the inaugural woman senior bishop of the Church of England. After generations of women striving for leadership roles within the church, a female leader will now hold the most senior position in the Anglican Church. This selection was embraced not just because she is a female, but because she is seen as a wise, knowledgeable, brave, and caring leader.

Opposition and Concerns

Of course, certain individuals expressed discontent—either due to her gender or owing to her endorsement for the blessing of LGBT unions. Additionally, a number of raised concerns about a serious protection incident previously that was poorly addressed under her oversight in the diocese of London.

However, Bishop Sarah—while rather diminutive in size—possesses broad shoulders, which will be essential. She endured a lengthy period as bishop of London, encompassing one of the most contentious regions in the country regarding female priests and bishops. Reports indicate that 20% of parishes in the city have passed resolutions to restrict female clergy from serving as vicars or consecrating the bread and wine. She has encountered misogynistic behaviour: in February, at the church assembly, she became emotional while recalling the many daily prejudices she has endured. One can assume that some of those occurrences were quite significant.

Hurdles in Leadership

As the senior bishop, Bishop Sarah will oversee a church that is accepting of females serving as clergy, but at the same time, it includes multiple serving senior clergy who welcome her as their incoming archbishop but would not personally receive communion from her. In addition, a senior clergy member rejects the idea that females should hold authority over men in the religious institution. Per reports, around six hundred churches continue to restrict female clergy, where she might not be able to preside over the Eucharist or deliver sermons.

In her global role as leader of the worldwide Anglican church—comprising 85 million people in more than 165 countries—she will additionally face challenges because of her gender. While the majority of provinces in the Anglican communion do ordain female priests and bishops, a few do not. Her position on LGBT issues—she is in favour of allowing priests to bless gay unions, provided they consent—is also criticised by some. Major and influential groups within the Church of England and global community resist this. Gafcon, a alliance of conservative churches, has publicly stated that it receives the appointment of Bishop Sarah’s appointment with sorrow.

Future Prospects

Thus, what can be expected?

When she is enthroned as senior bishop in spring the coming year, there will be just six years before her retirement at age 70. There is nonetheless a lot she can achieve in this period. To do that, it is thought she will need to show leadership that guides the church in a clear direction. In the past, the primary goal has been unity, and those in charge have gone round in circles to agree with everyone—despite established procedures for making difficult decisions through discussions and votes at General Synod.

Such an approach has brought to a point where additional bishops are assigned solely for those who do not accept female priests or bishops. The temptation will be to demand more separate leadership on additional matters, such as LGBT rites. However this direction will lead to more fragmentation and increased people being unable to give or receive the Eucharist together—something that is central of what it means to be a church. Demonstrating the bravery to adhere to procedures, make rulings, and not always making complicated and expensive accommodations for the losing side will bring not only clarity, but in the end enhanced unity as well.

Recently, in a Church of England educational institution, a student stated that a male peer had told her that the Bible teaches females need to be under the authority of men. It would have been preferable to tell her that this does not reflect what the Anglican Church holds, full stop. But I could not—because parishes are permitted to promote this. Given today’s society with so many problems, so much hostility, misogyny, and racism, it would be positive for the Church of England to have an authentic voice at its top that challenges the systems of male privilege that fuel violence and abuse against females and confronts the systemic sexism that is presently being ignored. It is hoped that the selection of the first female senior bishop will be a significant move in the direction of this.