Dear friends,
Today is an historic day for the church. For the first time in 1,400 years the Archbishop of Canterbury will be a woman. Sarah Mullally, currently the Bishop of London, will be the first female to serve as spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church.
The Anglican Communion is comprised of churches throughout the world that can trace their beginnings to the Church of England. In this country that is the Episcopal Church. Think of other areas that were colonized by England, and you will most likely find a denomination that can trace its roots back to the “mother” church. Today that communion is a loose fellowship, kind of like a family reunion. Churches across the globe may form partnerships. The national leaders of churches (for us Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe) come together periodically. But each country’s Anglican-related church operates independently.
What that means is that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s role in the Anglican Communion is primarily symbolic. She has no real authority outside of the Church of England. But symbols are important, and the fact that this worldwide symbolic position is now held by a woman is hugely significant, a step closer to making the Church reflect the diversity of God’s creation. So today is day for rejoicing!
With love,
Tricia
