WHEN the new Archbishop of Canterbury was to be announced, I wondered, like many, what their LBM (Life before Ministry) would be, this often being an indicator of leadership style. So I was particularly interested, when the Archbishop elect was named, that the Anglican Communion’s new leader was to be a woman who had previously spent many years as a nurse, and a very senior nurse at that. I felt something of an affinity with her, as I too spent many years working as a nurse before becoming a priest and at a certain point serving as an archdeacon and commissary (temporary bishop during a vacancy) despite being a woman. I pondered all aspects of this as I considered her elevation to +Canterbury. When I moved from nursing into training for ministry my son asked jokingly, “How are you going to manage when you can’t hurt people for a living?” Nursing brings with it much experience of pain, distress, and also healing – healing that sometimes comes when death is seen as a release, as “letting go means letting God.” The Anglican church is ailing and needs healing through listening, openness, empathy and realism. Healing through letting go of preconceived ideology is a way forward. Being both a priest and a bishop, Sarah Mullally is no stranger to leading committees, parishes, dioceses and many diverse groups. In an interview following her appointment, when asked what she would bring to her new role, she said: “I recognise I can’t do it alone. I need to do it with other colleagues.” Recognition that the life of a priest is lonely, no matter the appointment, from a person who will lead our Church, gladdens my heart and gives recognition that priests need pastoral care too. As a woman, the Archbishop elect has already faced rejection of her appointment by those who only acknowledge male headship and see male gender as a prerequisite for election. But women priests and indeed bishops have been permitted by the church for many years and, despite some dusty corners that still exist where conservative men are in positions of power and influence, they are well accepted, valued and integrated. Having said that, I have to recall an occasion when I was celebrating communion in a cathedral a few years ago. I offered bread that I had consecrated to a fellow cleric alongside some American visitors. He withdrew his cupped hands, shuddered in distaste and uttered ,“Ugh! No!” Who was the loser in that encounter I wondered? The Archbishop elect has also spoken openly about the need for reconciliation within the Communion. She has emphasised listening carefully to those with whom she disagrees. This will not be easy. Strongly held views on issues of sexuality, authority and doctrine remain within Anglicanism, and there is a temptation to retreat into entrenched positions. But the call of the Gospel is to love one another, even when unity feels fragile. In nursing, one learns that healing often takes time. Wounds must first be acknowledged before they can be treated. There is no quick fix for infection, and sometimes treatment is painful. Yet healing is possible when care is attentive and patient. Perhaps those years in hospital wards will serve the Archbishop well as she navigates the corridors of ecclesiastical power. I pray that Archbishop Mullally’s ministry will be marked by compassion, courage and clarity. May she find colleagues who will support her faithfully, and may the Church find in her leadership a renewed commitment to dialogue, humility and hope....
