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Throughout England, many rejoiced the news of the first ever woman senior bishop of the Church of England. Following centuries of women seeking for positions of authority within the religious institution, a female leader will now hold the highest role in the Anglican Church. This selection was embraced not only because she is a woman, but due to the fact she is seen as a insightful, knowledgeable, brave, and compassionate figurehead.

Criticism and Concerns

Unsurprisingly, certain groups voiced displeasure—either due to the fact she is a woman or because of her endorsement for the blessing of LGBT unions. Additionally, a number of raised concerns about a serious protection incident five years ago that was poorly addressed during her tenure in the regional church body of the capital.

Still, the bishop—while quite diminutive in size—has great strength, which is necessary. She endured seven years as senior clergy of London, which covers one of the most divided regions in the country regarding women in clergy roles. Sources suggest that 20% of churches in the city have passed resolutions to limit female clergy from serving as vicars or consecrating the bread and wine. The bishop has faced sexist actions: in February, at the church assembly, she broke down in tears while recalling the many micro-aggressions she has experienced. I would guess that some of those occurrences were far from minor.

Hurdles in Authority

As the senior bishop, Bishop Sarah will lead a religious body that is open to women being priests and bishops, but simultaneously, it includes multiple current senior clergy who welcome her as their new archbishop but would not personally receive communion from her. Furthermore, a senior clergy member rejects the idea that females should be in leadership over men in the religious institution. Per reports, around six hundred churches continue to limit women, where it may be impossible for her to lead the bread and wine or preach.

As international leader as head of the Anglican communion—including 85 million people in over 165 nations—Bishop Sarah will also face challenges due to her sex. While the majority of provinces in the Anglican communion now accept female priests and bishops, some refuse to. Her stance on same-sex relations—she supports allowing clergy to sanction same-sex relationships, if they agree—is likewise criticised by some. Major and powerful groups within the Anglican Church and Anglican communion resist this. A conservative network, a group of traditionalist congregations, has already announced that it views the news of her appointment with sorrow.

The Path Forward

So, what lies ahead?

When Bishop Sarah is enthroned as archbishop in spring next year, there will be just six years before she is expected to retire at age 70. Yet a lot that can be accomplished in that time. For this, I believe she will need to show guidance that guides the institution in a defined path. Historically, the rallying cry has been unity, and leaders have gone round in circles to agree with everyone—despite proper processes for making difficult decisions through prayerful debates and votes at the church assembly.

Such an approach has brought to a point where additional bishops are assigned exclusively for congregations who reject female priests or bishops. The temptation will be to ask for further separate leadership on other issues, such as LGBT rites. However this direction will lead to further division and more people being not allowed to share the bread and wine collectively—something that is at the very heart of what it means to be a church. Having the bravery to follow due process, take decisions, and avoid providing complex and costly accommodations for the losing side will bring not just clear direction, but in the end greater unity too.

Recently, while visiting a Anglican educational institution, a young woman mentioned that a male peer had told her that the scriptures says females must be under the authority of men. It would have been preferable to explain that this is not what the Church of England believes, full stop. Yet that was not possible—as parishes are allowed to promote this. Given today’s society with numerous issues, so much hatred, sexism, and discrimination, it would be beneficial for the Church of England to have an authentic leader at its top that calls out the structures of male privilege that drive violence and abuse against women and confronts the institutional misogyny that is presently being overlooked. Hopefully that the selection of the pioneering woman senior bishop will be a big step in the direction of that goal.