Conservative Anglican churches globally immediately criticise Mullally\u2019s appointment
\n Canterbury
\nSarah Mullally was named on Friday as the first female head of the Church of England, but her appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury immediately drew criticism from conservative Anglicans, mainly based in Africa, who oppose women bishops.
\nMullally will also become the ceremonial head of 85 million Anglicans worldwide and, like her predecessors, faces a tough challenge in bridging the divide between conservatives and generally more liberal Christians in the West.
\nMaking her first address in Canterbury Cathedral, the 63-year-old former career nurse condemned the sexual abuse scandals and safeguarding issues that have dogged the Church and also antisemitism following an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, which killed two men.
\nNew archbishop has supported liberal causes
\nGAFCON, a grouping of conservative Anglican churches globally, immediately criticised Mullally\u2019s appointment, saying it showed that the English arm of the Church had \u201crelinquished its authority to lead\u201d.
\nAddressing those who might object to her appointment, Mullally said: \u201cI intend to be a shepherd who enables everyone\u2019s ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever our tradition.\u201d
\nReforms introduced 11 years ago have made it possible for a woman to become Archbishop of Canterbury, an office that dates back more than 1,400 years. It is also one of the last British institutions to have been run until now only by men.
\nBishop of London since 2018, she has previously championed several liberal causes within the Church.
\nIn her address, Mullally spoke of the difficulties of an age which \u201ccraves certainty and tribalism\u201d and a country which is wrestling with complex moral and political questions around migration and communities feeling overlooked.
\n\u201cMindful of the horrific violence of yesterday\u2019s attack on a synagogue in Manchester, we are witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities,\u201d she said, adding that it was her Christian faith that gave her hope in a world which often feels \u201con the brink\u201d.
\nSafeguarding improvements needed
\nThe Church of England has been without a leader since last November when Justin Welby resigned over a child abuse cover-up scandal, and Mullally said she would focus on improvements in that area.
\n\u201cMy commitment will be to ensure that we continue to listen to survivors, care for the vulnerable, and foster a culture of safety and well-being for all,\u201d she said.
\nLinda Woodhead, professor of theology and religious studies at King\u2019s College London, said Mullally\u2019s strong management skills were needed to help address safeguarding issues.
\n\u201cHer emphasis on unity, gentleness and strength is exactly what the church, and nation, needs right now,\u201d she said.
\n\u2018It\u2019s all about people\u2019
\nMullally is a former cancer nurse who worked as England\u2019s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s, while also being ordained as a priest in 2002. She became one of the first women to be consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England in 2015.
\n\u201cThere are great commonalities between nursing and being a priest. It\u2019s all about people, and sitting with people during the most difficult times in their lives,\u201d she once told a magazine.
\nShe has advocated for creating an open and transparent culture in churches which allows for difference and disagreement, and has spoken on issues including the cost-of-living crisis, healthcare, and social justice.
\nMullally is married to Eamonn and has two adult children.
\nPM Starmer wishes her \u2018every success\u2019
\nReflecting the Church of England\u2019s status as England\u2019s established church, Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s office announced Mullally\u2019s appointment on Friday with the formal consent of King Charles.
\n\u201cThe Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,\u201d Starmer said in a statement.
\nAs monarch, Charles is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a role established in the 16th century when King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Conservative Anglican churches globally immediately criticise Mullally\u2019s appointment Canterbury Sarah Mullally was named on Friday as the first female head of the Church of England, but her appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury immediately drew criticism from conservative Anglicans, mainly based in Africa, who oppose women bishops. Mullally will also become the ceremonial head of 85 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":506617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-506597","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n