Sarah Mullally becomes first woman to lead
Church of England
Mullally, 63, previously was Britain's top nursing officer and had been the Bishop of London since 2018. She said she has received significant support for her appointment as Archbishop.
"There's a sense of the weight of office that I feel, but I've also been very conscious of the huge support that I've had from people either writing [to me] or passing me in the streets," Mullally told the BBC.
She said raising awareness of misogyny will be among her goals in her new role.
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"It is fair to say that I have, both in my secular role as well as in the church, experienced misogyny at times," Mullally said.
"I'm conscious that being in this role, it's important for me to speak it because there are some that don't necessarily have the status or power of this role and feel more hesitant to do it," she added.
"I commit myself to making an environment where all people can flourish and which is safer for all," Mullally said.
Sounds like a woke mentality. Perhaps even an agenda to change the thousand year old church to make it more welcoming for gay and lesbian leaders.
St Paul wrote that women should not be in a position of authority in the church over men. He cited Eve's disastrous decision in the Garden and her influence over Adam in sharing that decision as reason for men to be responsible for women in spiritual matters. This doctrine has worked in the church for a millenium, but suddenly is not good enough. Watch for trouble between the African church and Canterbury. There will be much spiritual antagonism there,
Mullally's ascent to the Church of England's leading role ends the scandalous term of former Archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned in 2024 due to concerns that he did not do enough to stop a known abuser of boys and young men, who was associated with the church.
Welby was the first archbishop to resign from the Church of England due to a scandal in 1,000 years.
Mullally's rise to archbishop was not universally welcomed within the church.
Some African church elders were unhappy with her confirmation, and others have questioned her ability to protect church members.
Church of Nigeria Archbishop Henry Ndukuba said Mullally's new role as an archbishop runs counter to the "conviction of the majority of Anglicans who are unable to embrace female headship of the episcopate."
Echoing that sentiment, Rwanda Anglican Church Archbishop Laurent Mbanda issued a statement in which he said the "majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy."
Mullally acknowledged such concerns and said she understands that some will find it problematic for a woman to lead the Church of England.
"What I hope to do is to be able to provide a space where I can offer hospitality to people, where I can listen to what their concerns are and, in a sense, find some way in which we can at least have a partnership together in that way," she said.
Mullally acknowledged other concerns that include her support for same-sex marriage and her ability to safeguard church members following the scandal that forced Welby to resign.
The Church of England also recently dismissed a complaint that accused Mullally of protecting an alleged abuser while she was the bishop of London by sharing emails detailing abuse allegations against that person.
Former London Diocese safeguarding adviser Michell Burns has accused the diocese of placing a greater importance on protecting its reputation than addressing the potential abuse of victims.
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