Sarah Mullally named as new Archbishop of Canterbury | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Archbishop of Canterbury
• Church of England
• Dame Sarah Mullally
• Bishop of London
• Safeguarding
• Same-sex unions
• Theological divisions
• Ordination of women
• Glass ceiling

Appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally

• Historical Significance: For the first time in nearly 500 years, the Church of England has nominated a woman, Dame Sarah Mullally, to lead it as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
• Previous Role: Dame Sarah Mullally has been the Bishop of London since 2017, breaking "glass ceilings" throughout her career. She was the first woman to hold that position and the third most senior member of clergy in the Church of England.
• Enthronement: She will be officially installed in an enthronement ceremony sometime in the new year.
• Recent Changes: Women were only allowed to become bishops under the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Female priests were first allowed in the Church of England in the 1990s, followed by the first female bishops just 10 years ago.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Challenging Time: Dame Sarah Mullally takes over the church at a challenging time.
• Background: Before joining the church, she was an administrator in the NHS and the youngest-ever chief nursing officer for England in 1999.
• Professionalism: As Bishop of London, she is seen as someone who brought professionalism and modernized the dasis. It is hoped she will bring that to the church as well.
• Safeguarding: One of the most urgent issues is charting a new course in how the church deals with safeguarding, abuse, and treating those who have suffered abuse with compassion.
• Declining Attendance: The church faces the issue of falling numbers of people attending services, although London has bucked this trend somewhat under her leadership.
• Theological Divisions: There are significant theological divisions within the church, particularly regarding blessings for same-sex unions.
• Broader Issues: She will also be expected to comment on issues and challenges across the country and globally.

Internal Opposition

• Opposition to Female Leadership: While many will welcome a woman in this position, some do not believe a woman should be the head of the church.
• Safeguarding Reforms: Early in her career, she was put in charge of looking at reforms to safeguarding, and some believe a woman in charge might help chart a better course.
• Opposition to Ordination: Some senior members of clergy oppose women becoming bishops or leading the church, and even oppose women being ordained at all, feeling it goes against their theology.
• Past Successes: She has managed to work with some of these bishops in the past, suggesting this will not necessarily be an obstacle to her leadership.

Conclusion

The appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury marks a historic moment for the Church of England. While she faces significant challenges, including safeguarding issues, declining attendance, and theological divisions, her background in administration and her track record as Bishop of London suggest she is well-equipped to lead the church forward. However, she will need to navigate internal opposition from those who do not support women in leadership roles within the church.