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the new archbishop of canterbury

(79 Posts)
madeleine45 Thu 29-Jan-26 15:37:17

How good to see the new woman archbishop. She is a breath of fresh air, and has much useful knowledge in her background. At least we have much more likelihood of child abuse not being ignored, so wishing her a long and calming influence on the many parts of the church of england.

Deedaa Sat 31-Jan-26 20:50:57

The amount of outright hatred I have seen from men on line is beyond belief. And not just her, but any woman who wants to be active in the church. I presume these appalling specimens of manhood would tell us they are all devout Christians.

Wyllow3 Sat 31-Jan-26 20:56:49

AGAA4

I may be wrong but didn't she say she would not tolerate mysogeny? Good for her if she did.

She did. Specifically. she was splendid,just what the C or E needs, breath of fresh air, organisationally very experiences, no ones fool.
A big welcome from me, although I'm not C or E. She wont rush in, but she will bring change about slowly. And what a hob on her hands - still some believing that women cannot be spiritually equal with men.

Wyllow3 Sat 31-Jan-26 21:03:21

Job on her hands. I don't see why any women should not lead or represent or support women and men in the spiritual sphere just as much as men. In many ways women are more suited.

sarahcyn Sat 31-Jan-26 23:04:42

As I understand it her best expertise is in bureaucracy so I hope she can do something about the top-heavy funding structure of the C of E. Both COE and the RC church have this in common: the people in power and the media only look at headlines and press releases, but the Church is truly in the parishes.

FranP Sat 31-Jan-26 23:13:05

The role demands a high level of diplomacy and being very careful about what you say and how you say it -like their majesties.
It also means that one's personal opinion is tempered by the teaching of the faith
This can come across as weak, certainly as bland.

eazybee Sun 01-Feb-26 06:51:20

The position of Archbishop of Canterbury demands a level of diplomacy, but it also demands leadership, which has been missing for a number of years. Apparently she has spent very little time as parish priest where she would have learnt her craft, but because of her nursing roles has been fast tracked to positions of authority..

eazybee Sun 01-Feb-26 07:00:13

However, she is a considered and vociferous critic of the Assisted Dying Bill, based on her personal and practical experience, which is good, as the Bill is being rushed through to score political points by a lot of very inexperienced MPs.

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Feb-26 08:40:47

There is no evidence she would not be responsive to everyday needs in parishes

but there is parlous, even desperate need, for good leadership atm, especially with the abuse issues still so alive, so her background is "the right person at the right time".

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Feb-26 09:26:12

Here is her C of E biography.

Well worth a read to see what she has done with her life, in terms of education, work, and family, and hobbies.

www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/about/sarah-mullally

MartavTaurus Sun 01-Feb-26 09:32:28

eazybee

The position of Archbishop of Canterbury demands a level of diplomacy, but it also demands leadership, which has been missing for a number of years. Apparently she has spent very little time as parish priest where she would have learnt her craft, but because of her nursing roles has been fast tracked to positions of authority..

Nursing and clergy are two very closely related crafts.

It has nothing to do with longevity in a particular type of job.

Have you MET her? Have you been in her circle/parish (Crediton).
Yes! She is very likeable, works hard, and knows her craft.

eazybee Sun 01-Feb-26 09:33:43

She has had very little practical experience of maintaining a parish , where one encounters all strata of human life and its problems. It is the parishes which keep the Church going, particularly large sums of money going to the diocese and centred on the needs of large expensive cathedrals and their clergy.

Galaxy Sun 01-Feb-26 09:33:53

Well if that is the criteria no one on the thread can offer a view as presumably most in here haven't met her.

MartavTaurus Sun 01-Feb-26 09:40:47

There's such a thing as fast tracking if you have the right person. It doesn't take years to train someone. I'd like to see how she has performed in 12 months time.

Caleo Sun 01-Feb-26 10:07:17

Ladyleftfieldlover

I am very pleased she has been chosen but I’m afraid she will have as difficult a job as previous ABCs. Even Rowan Williams, who has a brain the size of a planet, could never get anything done. I always thought that those Anglicans who couldn’t approve of women being priests or bishops should have become Roman Catholic. Some did, even married ones, but a lot didn’t.

I used to work in a theological college and saw all sorts.

Did you ever read the novels of Barbara Pym? All her stories have much of the comical and well- observed about C of E church-going.

Caleo Sun 01-Feb-26 10:09:12

MartavTaurus

eazybee

The position of Archbishop of Canterbury demands a level of diplomacy, but it also demands leadership, which has been missing for a number of years. Apparently she has spent very little time as parish priest where she would have learnt her craft, but because of her nursing roles has been fast tracked to positions of authority..

Nursing and clergy are two very closely related crafts.

It has nothing to do with longevity in a particular type of job.

Have you MET her? Have you been in her circle/parish (Crediton).
Yes! She is very likeable, works hard, and knows her craft.

I would like to read you enlarging on that interesting idea.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 01-Feb-26 10:12:12

I’ve read all Barbara Pym’s novels!

Grannycool52 Sun 01-Feb-26 13:25:16

As far as we know, the books of the bible were all written by men, at times when the vast majority of women really had little status.
I don't think we can rely on reference to them when deciding the roles of today's women.
I am an Anglican and am delighted a woman has been appointed to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury.

MartavTaurus Sun 01-Feb-26 14:41:01

Caleo

MartavTaurus

eazybee

The position of Archbishop of Canterbury demands a level of diplomacy, but it also demands leadership, which has been missing for a number of years. Apparently she has spent very little time as parish priest where she would have learnt her craft, but because of her nursing roles has been fast tracked to positions of authority..

Nursing and clergy are two very closely related crafts.

It has nothing to do with longevity in a particular type of job.

Have you MET her? Have you been in her circle/parish (Crediton).
Yes! She is very likeable, works hard, and knows her craft.

I would like to read you enlarging on that interesting idea.

So without taking over the thread,
my own view is that nursing, the ministry, (and teaching) are a vocation - a calling or a mission if you like.

It's the person with empathy who is usually best suited to these jobs, not necessarily the person with the most experience. Of course, sometimes the wrong person is appointed, but I'd rather let her bring what she knows works and build on it, with the support of those surrounding her, than appoint someone with decades of experience but who has no idea how to apply it.

I'm probably not explaining myself very well here, but it's the way you apply your experience, even limited experience, not how much experience you have acquired over decades but never used. And it's how you impart that to others.

fancythat Sun 01-Feb-26 14:47:36

Grannycool52

As far as we know, the books of the bible were all written by men, at times when the vast majority of women really had little status.
I don't think we can rely on reference to them when deciding the roles of today's women.
I am an Anglican and am delighted a woman has been appointed to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury.

The trouble with that is though, God gave the reason in the New Testament about why men and not women.
Even though I would like it not to be so.

A while since I had read it so will have to go and find it.

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Feb-26 14:53:36

Grannycool52

As far as we know, the books of the bible were all written by men, at times when the vast majority of women really had little status.
I don't think we can rely on reference to them when deciding the roles of today's women.
I am an Anglican and am delighted a woman has been appointed to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury.

👏
I'm not an Anglican, I'm a Quaker, and we feel as you do. Not without the ususal reservations but Smiles at Meeting today.

We did wonder of the African churches - or some of them, as they are not all of the same opinions of course - will consider breaking away.

fancythat Sun 01-Feb-26 14:56:45

fancythat

Grannycool52

As far as we know, the books of the bible were all written by men, at times when the vast majority of women really had little status.
I don't think we can rely on reference to them when deciding the roles of today's women.
I am an Anglican and am delighted a woman has been appointed to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury.

The trouble with that is though, God gave the reason in the New Testament about why men and not women.
Even though I would like it not to be so.

A while since I had read it so will have to go and find it.

Take your pick from this lot.

www.openbible.info/topics/women_preaching_the_gospel

I would like it all not to be so.

But I dont make the rules.
Or intrepret them

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Feb-26 15:49:24

"Women in Ministry: In 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul provides instructions for women to pray and prophesy, assuming their active, vocal role in worship.

However, in 1 Corinthians 14:34, he explicitly states women should "keep silent in the churches".

Allira Sun 01-Feb-26 16:11:26

But I dont make the rules.
Or intrepret them

No, men did!!

St Paul - the question is still debated. Was he or was he not a misogynist? His writings are contradictory.

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 01-Feb-26 16:46:52

Indeed, Allira. I'm a Christian, and follow the teachings of Jesus. St Paul's advice to the early church is if academic interest to me, only.

Wyllow3 Sun 01-Feb-26 17:48:06

Well, he was contradictory, truly. There's also the Classic 1 Peter 2 "wives obey your husbands".

St Paul also gave kind advice in some of his letters to the communities he supported.

But it doesn't concern me there are contradictions, it's for us to debate and explore. Part of an alive faith not one carved in stone.

What has always struck me (I personally dont believe Jesus was the son of god literally btw, but a wonderful teacher/preacher).
.....is that for a man of his time Jesus was very pro women indeed...it was those coming after! After his death the very early church was full of very brave women leaders/preachers and some writings by women survived into the gnostic gospels.