Sarah Mullally installed as first female Archbishop of Canterbury > Now is a schism developing with the African Church?

 

 

Sarah Mullally becomes first woman archbishop of Canterbury

By Lisa Hornung

   

1 of 2 | Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally meets well-wishers after her installation in Canterbury Cathedral in Britain on Wednesday. The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop, leader of the Church of England, and ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Sarah Mullally is the 106th and first female Archbishop of Canterbury since the role was created in 597. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA

March 25 (UPI) -- Sarah Elisabeth Mullally was installed Wednesday as the first woman to hold the title of archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

Mullally, 63, is the 106th person to hold the title of the most senior cleric in the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, which includes some 85 million Anglicans around the world. And she is the only one who isn't a man.

In her first sermon as archbishop, she honored victims of church abuse.

"We hold victims and survivors in our hearts and in our prayers, and we must remain committed to truth, compassion, justice and action," she said.

"In a world already torn by conflict, suffering and division, we must also acknowledge the hurt that exists much closer to home," she said. "We must not overlook or minimize the pain experienced by those who have been harmed through the actions, inactions or failures of those in our own Christian churches and communities."

About 2,000 invited guests attended the ceremonial installment, which is historically called an enthronement, including William, Prince of Wales, and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also there. Also in the congregation was a contingent of nurses and caregivers from Canterbury to honor Mullally's former career as a nurse.

While Mullally has served in the position since January, the Wednesday's ceremony marks the symbolic beginning of her service as the archbishop. She was named to the position in October.

She replaced the former archbishop Justin Welby, who resigned in January 2025 over his handling of a sex abuse scandal in the diocese.

A Christian camp organizer, the late John Smyth, had allegedly abused boys at the camp in the 1970s and '80s. A report found that Smyth might have faced charges while he was alive if Welby had reported the abuse when he learned about it in 2013. Smyth died in 2018.

The first archbishop of Canterbury -- St. Augustine -- was enthroned in 587. The Church of England officially allowed women to become priests in 1994.

"As I look back over my life at the teenage Sarah, who put her faith in God and made a commitment to follow Jesus, I could never have imagined the future that lay ahead, and certainly not the ministry to which I am now called," she told the congregation.

Her enthronement is not welcomed by all in the Anglican Communion. Many traditionalists in Britain and abroad still believe that only men can be priests.

Earlier this month in Abuja, Nigeria, conservative clergy selected their own leader to follow, Rwandan Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.

Mbanda issued a statement in January in which he said the "majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy."

In the days before the service, Mullally walked an 87-mile pilgrimage for six days from London's St. Paul's Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral. She is the first archbishop in modern times to make the trip, which was memorialized in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

Ahead of the ceremony, the Very Rev. David Monteith, dean of the Canterbury Cathedral, said, "Today matters."

Monteith described Mullally as a person of "really deep and profound faith," as demonstrated by her giving up her nursing career, he told The New York Times.

"That's a big, risky thing to do, and it's born of somebody who had a lively sense of faith and connection with God, sufficient for her to hear a call to turn in a different direction and follow another path," he said. "And I think that speaks well to me of somebody of integrity and of depth as well."

After a Thousand Years a Woman is selected as Archbishop of Canterbury

 

Sarah Mullally becomes first woman to lead

Church of England

By Mike Heuer

   

Sarah Mullally (C) departs St. Paul's Cathedral in London after becoming the 106th and first female Archbishop of Canterbury on Wednesday. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA

Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Sarah Mullally was confirmed as the first female and 106th archbishop of Canterbury during a formal ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Wednesday.

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.

First Woman Named Archbishop of Canterbury

 

Sarah Mullally named first woman Archbishop of Canterbury

By Lisa Hornung

   

Dame Sarah Mullally poses for a portrait after being named the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England's nearly 500-year history at Canterbury Cathedral Friday. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican faith. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA

Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The new Archbishop of Canterbury designate is Dame Sarah Mullally, the first woman in the position.

Mullally, 63, is a former chief nurse and became a priest in 2006. She was named the first female bishop of London in 2018, which is the third-most senior clergy member in the Church of England.

In her first public statement Friday she condemned the "horrific violence" of Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester. She said "hatred and racism cannot tear us apart."

The Church of England announced in a statement: "The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Canterbury nominated Bishop Sarah following a process of public consultation and prayerful discernment that began in February this year."

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There will be an Election by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral sometime before Christmas, and there will be a confirmation on Jan. 28. Then there will be an enthronement in March, the church said.

The last leader of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, left his post in January. He had resigned two months earlier over his handling of a sex abuse scandal.

A Christian camp organizer, the late John Smyth, had allegedly abused boys at the camp in the 1970s and '80s. A report found that Smyth might have faced charges while he was alive if Welby had reported the abuse when he learned about it in 2013. Smyth died in 2018.

Once an archbishop has been chosen by the church, a name is passed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, then passed to King Charles III.

The king is the head of the Church of England, but the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and spiritual leader of the church and the Anglican Communion worldwide.

Starmer welcomed Mullally's appointment, saying: "I wish her every success and look forward to working together."

The Church of England first ordained women priests in 1994. The first female bishop appointments came 20 years later in 2014.

A conservative group, the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, criticized Mullally's appointment. They said that, although they welcome it, "The majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy," the BBC reported.

She said Friday in Canterbury Cathedral that "in an age that craves certainty and tribalism, Anglicanism offers something quieter but stronger," the BBC reported.

She promised to confront the failures that "left a legacy of deep harm and mistrust. ... We must all be willing to have light shone on our actions, regardless of our role in the Church."

Bishop Anthony Poggo, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said in a statement, "May God grant her wisdom and discernment, as she seeks to listen to member churches, encourage mutual support, and foster unity. The Anglican Communion Office is fully committed to supporting her ministry as she works with other Provinces and the Instruments of the Anglican Communion."

What about working with God? Welby left because he was completely out of touch with God in the last couple of years, in my humble opinion.

UK is Denying Refuge to Christians Fleeing Isil, say Church Leaders

Charity launches petition with backing of Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, calling on the Government to provide a safe haven for Christians fleeing jihadi tyranny in Syria

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury,
led criticism aimed at the Government
 Photo: Andrew Crowley/The Telegraph

Church leaders have accused David Cameron of “turning his back” on Christians facing genocide in Syria and Iraq by failing to offer them refuge in the UK.

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, led criticism aimed at the Government for failing to provide a safe haven to Christians trying to flee the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

He will sign a petition that is being launched on Monday calling on the Government to “welcome Christian refugees and give them priority as asylum seekers”.

It comes amid growing concern that the Government is ignoring their plight.

Last week, 42 Christian families were smuggled out of Syria to Beirut and then flown to Poland where they received safe haven. The operation was run by the Barnabas Fund, a charity aiding persecuted Christians, and the Weidenfeld Safe Havens Fund, a Jewish-funded organisation founded by Lord Weidenfeld, the publisher.

More Christians will be evacuated to the Czech Republic and even as far away as Brazil in coming weeks but, according to the organisers, the Government has so far refused requests to relocate Christians in the UK. Lord Carey said last night: “Syrian and Iraqi Christians are being butchered, tortured and enslaved.

“We need the British Government to work with charities like the Barnabas Fund and others to evacuate those who are in desperate fear of their lives.”

Lord Weidenfeld, 95, who fled Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 with the help of British Quakers, said: “Why is it that the Poles and the Czechs are taking in Christian families and yet the British government stands idly by?

“This mood of indifference is reminiscent of the worst phases of appeasement, and may have catastrophic consequences. Europe must awake and the Conservative British Government should be leading from the front.

"Most European governments, especially those that are Christian explicitly or implicitly, are failing in their duty to look after their fellow Christians in their hour of need.”

The petition, launched by the Barnabas Fund, calls on governments to work with Middle East countries and “recognise that Christians are especially targeted and uniquely in need of safe refuge”.

The petition points out that the Christian communities in Syria and in Iraq are among the oldest in the world but that they now face “an existential threat to their survival”.

It adds: “They are being killed, enslaved and persecuted by so-called Islamic State and are forced to flee from their homes. Their homes are being destroyed and they have no safe areas in the region.

“The oppression and persecution of Christians, simply for their faith, is leading many Christians to conclude that they have no choice but to leave.”

The Barnabas Fund claims that just over ten years, the numbers of Christians living in Iraq has plunged from 1.5 million to 300,000 while in Syria it is estimated half a million Christians, out of two million, have fled since the beginning of the current conflict.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, the Barnabas Fund’s international director, said: “With the rise of Islamic State we are seeing what looks set to become a 'genocide’ of Christians in the Middle East, yet the UK has its doors firmly closed.

“So many British Christians have been in contact with us to tell us that they have a spare room or even a second home in which they want to welcome Syrian and Iraqi Christians. Yet our government seems determined to turn its back on some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”

Canon Andrew White, the former vicar of the only Anglican church in Iraq, said: “I really think it is horrendous that the British have not offered refuge to these Christian refugees.”

The Most Rev Justin Welby, the present Archbishop of Canterbury, has expressed his concern over the plight of Christians in Syria and Iraq and has “offered his full support for them being given protection in the UK and in other Western countries”.

David Cameron drew criticism from charities and aid organisations in June after announcing he would “modestly expand” the number of Syrian refugees allowed into the UK by offering “a few hundred more” places.

The Government has declined to show a preference for Christian refugees. It was reported in June that Britain granted entry to 187 Syrians since Theresa May introduced the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme in January 2014.

The Prime Minister said the UK would boost the number of places to resettle the most vulnerable, but Downing Street said the figure would not exceed 1,000.

By comparison, Germany has offered 30,000 places to resettle Syrians, Sweden has committed to resettling 2,700, Switzerland has offered 3,500 places and Austria 1,500.

A source close to the Barnabas Fund said: “The UK government are blocking our evacuations. We are negotiating with governments in eastern Europe and even as far afield as Brazil but the British government is so far not forthcoming.”

I thought Cameron was a professing Christian! Was I wrong?