Many people had hoped the appointment of the current Bishop of London as the new Archbishop would herald closure of the issues fermenting during Justine Welby's time at Canterbury. Fat chance. Sarah Mullally brings with her a cartload of safeguarding baggage. Issues around Living in Love and Faith and GAFCON's decision to break away from the Anglican Communion will be in her pending tray.
There has been an upsurge in questions concerning her role in handling safeguarding issues in the London diocese. A television programme and commentary on social media by clerics in the diocese raised important issues that cannot be swept away by apologies and bland PR statements. There is something rotten at the core of the diocese and there needs to be an independent investigation into the role of senior clerics and administrators to identify what is wrong with the process of handling safeguarding concerns. Until this matter is resolved safeguarding will continue to dog Mullally, as it did her predecessor.
The decision by the House of Bishops to 'pause' a decision on what to present on the issue of Living in Love and Faith (LLF) to the next meeting of the General Synod had caused anger and angst among those supportive of same-sex blessings and permitting same-sex marriage for clergy. The House stated this week that a decision will be made in January and proposals presented to the next General Synod meeting in February 2026. The question is: what will be proposed?
The House stated in October 2025 what in principle it was likely to firm up on at its December meeting. Following the October meeting there has been a concerted effort by supporters of the same-sex proposals to counter the opinion of the House that a complicated process of decision to change canon law is required which effectively would kill the proposals as two-thirds majorities are required in each of the three Houses of the General Synod: bishops, clergy and laity, with little chance of success. Instead, it is argued that current powers of bishops and canon law enable the changes to go forward and be implemented without recourse to General Synod.
Opponents of LLF have noted the continued procrastination by the House of Bishops and probably had hoped for a decision to go ahead with the October proposals. Whatever is decided it will be a tricky situation for Mullally as she is the lead on LLF and has supported the proposals for change. Will she and like-minded bishops cave in to the bullying tactics of those opposed to change who have set up the Ephesian Fund, alternative oversight and made threats to establish a third province? Or will she and her supportive bishops show courage and fortitude and press on with change? Or is unity at any cost the mantra and hard luck to those in the LGBTQ+ communities who are to be treated as second class individuals?
GAFCON basically are Anglican provinces holding to a fundamentalist, bible based, conservative, evangelical theology. It places emphasis on the authority of the bible, over and above the dictates, of reason and tradition. Female clerics are regarded with suspicion, indeed outright opposition, and it would be anathema to have a female head of the Anglican Communion. To this may be added a rejection of any moves towards same-sex relationships being condoned or suppported by the church. Therefore it is little wonder that some provinces has decided to part with the Anglican Communion and establish their own organisation - even to the point of claiming that they are the true Anglican Communion and that progressive provinces have left them!
What surprises me is that in England those opposed to change have not sought to join GAFCON. But then it would lead to loss of buildings, homes, salaries and pensions so possibly that is disincentive to act. Time to call the bluff of CEEC, Forward in Faith, HTB and the Alliance.
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