Britain appointed Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, marking her as the first woman to lead the Anglican Church worldwide. The decision has drawn praise in the UK but criticism from conservative church leaders in Africa and other parts of the Anglican Communion.
Mullally, 63, a former chief nurse of England, inherits a church divided between conservative and liberal factions over issues including the role of women.
While many British clergy welcomed the appointment, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, head of a global confederation of conservative evangelical churches, expressed doubts that Mullally could unite the church.
Nigerian bishops also voiced opposition, with some insisting that women should not hold leadership roles. The evangelical wing of the Church of England called for adherence to biblical teachings.
In her inaugural speech at Canterbury Cathedral, Mullally emphasized her commitment to helping all churches flourish and addressing abuses of power within the Church.
She condemned the rise in anti-Semitism following Thursday’s deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester, and pledged to confront challenges highlighted by recent sexual assault scandals.
The Church of England has allowed women to be ordained as priests for more than 30 years and as bishops for over a decade. Mullally succeeds Justin Welby, who resigned over a child abuse cover-up scandal. Several Anglican churches in Africa and Asia, which recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as their honorary head, have rejected her appointment.
Mullally’s elevation represents a historic milestone in British public life, making her the 106th person to hold the position and breaking a centuries-old gender barrier. The Vatican, while not permitting women’s ordination, acknowledged her appointment and noted the significant challenges facing the Anglican Church.
Follow The Times Kuwait on
X, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news updates
