A Historic Moment
Watching the
enthronement of the new Archbishop of
Canterbury left me with both a sense of awe and the resignation of
acceptance. When the last Archbishop resigned in November 2024, it did occur to
me that there was a likelihood the next person appointed to the office might
radically shift from the norm, a woman perhaps.
I stated then that I
was not particularly ready for that kind of change when the Church of England
had only begun appointing female bishops barely a decade ago. Yet, with my
Pentecostal exposure, I was already familiar with women teaching from the
pulpit and leading Christian ministries.
Tradition and Change
The traditions of the
Church of England have a history, constancy, and stability that I felt should
not be defined by speed, but by the gentle persuasion of clergy and laity alike
towards necessary aims. Obviously, there have been insurmountable issues in
certain provinces of the global Anglican Communion: the ordination of women
priests, the issue of sexual orientation, and the blessing of same-sex unions.
The conversation must continue, even if agreement remains distant.
Generally, I have
accepted the ministry of women in the Church of England, as canons, priests,
archdeacons, and bishops. I also recognise that at ordinations, a separate
service attends to those who do not accept the ministry of women, with a flying
bishop of that persuasion presiding in that setting. I must confess, I have
only seen female bishops in the media; I have never met one or been in a
service with them in attendance.
The Ceremony Itself
The enthronement
service brought the spectacle of religion, politics, and ceremony, along with
the pomp and pageantry that the English excel at exhibiting. Representatives of
all the different religious communities attended, including the Bishop of Ebbsfleet,
one of those flying bishops of a different persuasion mentioned earlier.
For all the
acclamation and pronouncements, I was surprised that the ceremony included no
laying on of hands. It was more the dainty holding of a hand.
Moving Forward
This process was one
in which I had no influence, apart from individually deciding whether
appointing a woman as Archbishop sat well with my belief system. There was
enough precedent in other provinces to suggest this would settle down into a
kind of détente that demands both dexterity and political nous from the office
holder.
I know I won't be
rushing out to a service presided over by The Most Reverend and Right
Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, yet I wish her term is blessed with
success and the reconciliation of the church in whatever way possible. May we,
in our misgivings or concerns, see the grace and beauty in what we as mere
mortals fail to appreciate in the growth of the church.
Blog - England:
We have a new Archbishop of Canterbury, she's a woman
Blog - Losing
my religion in this reformation split
