On Friday, 3 October, His Majesty The King confirmed the nomination of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. The Right Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally gave her first address from Canterbury Cathedral and spent the morning visiting a number of community projects in the Diocese of Canterbury.

Following the announcement, many Provinces of the Anglican Communion shared messages of goodwill and support. Some expressed reservations. In this article, Anglican News features a selection of responses from Primates or bishops from the five regions of the Anglican Communion.

North America

The Most Revd Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, stated that he was ‘very pleased’ with Bishop Mullally’s appointment. He noted that, ‘Bishop Sarah is known in the Church of England as a wise and steady leader, a faithful advocate for the leadership of women in the church, and a bishop who will be committed to safeguarding vulnerable people and victims of abuse.’

See the full statement from the Episcopal Church.

Archbishop Shane Parker, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, wrote to the archbishop-designate ‘to extend warm congratulations, many blessings and strong support to you as you take on vital ministry as the Archbishop of Canterbury. We rejoice with you!’

Read the letter from the Primate of Canada.

The Most Revd Juan David Alvarado Melgar, the Primate of Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (IARCA) and Bishop of El Salvador, expressed his ‘gratitude to God for the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the Archbishop of Canterbury’ and prayed for God to ‘grant you strength, encouragement and discernment to exercise with property this ministry to which you have been called.’

Read the statement from the Anglican Church of the Central Region of America.

Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania and President of the Compass Rose Society, an organisation focused on supporting the programs and ministries of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), remarked that Bishop Mullally ‘is wise, compassionate, and deeply faithful. She brings to her faith and ministry all her previous experience as a nurse, and she speaks beautifully of her relationship with Jesus Christ.

‘Bishop Mullally faces tremendous challenges ahead, given the political, theological, and financial challenges facing the Body of Christ and all of God’s beloved… As members of the Compass Rose Society, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support the unity and mission of the Anglican Communion through the work of the Anglican Communion Office. We look forward to working with Bishop Mullally as she steps into her new role.’

Read the full statement from the Compass Rose Society here.

South America

The Most Revd Marinez Rosa Dos Santos Bassotto, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of the Amazon, shared ‘The choice of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury is a historic landmark, not just for the Anglican Church but for the whole Church of Christ spread around the world.

‘This election brings a new leadership perspective in a time of challenges, ruptures and crises. We live in an era where prejudice, violence and intolerance are intensifying and taking on frightening proportions. We are a society of polarisations, of disputes, not only symbolic and narrative but also practical. Bishop Sarah, with her life and ministry experience, as someone who has served in roles of great leadership, but also in ministries of care and compassion, embodies the wisdom, empathy, love, strength and courage necessary to guide the church in this time we are living in.

‘I believe that this election brings a fresh breath of life and marks the beginning of a new time for the Church and is a sign of how much our Anglican Communion has broadened its vision, becoming more inclusive and welcoming.’

See the video statement from the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.

La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico shared a statement that said: ‘It is with joy, faith and hope that we receive the news of the election of the Most Reverend Sarah Elisabeth Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Communion.

‘We are fully confident that she will be a leader who promotes integrity and human dignity, who will ensure justice and unity in the face of the challenges of the contemporary world and even within our Anglican Communion.’

Read the statement from the Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico.

The Rt Revd Claude Berkley, Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, shared a message extending ‘heartfelt congratulations’ and acknowledging that ‘This momentous occasion, almost 500 years in the making, stands as a testament to the ever-unfolding work of the Holy Spirit within our Communion, and it brings hope and encouragement to Anglicans across the globe.

‘The Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago has always held a deep and abiding connection with the See of Canterbury, from which our Church draws its roots and spiritual heritage. This relationship continues to serve as a wellspring of unity, faith and mission, strengthening our witness as members of the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We rejoice with the faithful in England and throughout the Anglican Communion at this new chapter in our common life, and we pray that her ministry will be marked by wisdom, compassion and prophetic vision.’

Read the statement from the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.

Europe

The Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York and Primate of England, stated that he was ‘delighted’ in Bishop Mullally’s appointment as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

‘She is a person of huge courage, wisdom, integrity and experience. In the many challenges the Church of England faces at the moment, we need the kind, godly and stable leadership Bishop Sarah will bring. It will be my great pleasure to serve alongside her and I hope that together we can continue the work of helping the Church of England be simpler, humbler and bolder in its proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ and in our service to the nation.’

See the statement on Facebook from the Archbishop of York.

The recently appointed Primate of the Church in Wales, the Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, remarked, ‘Bishop Sarah has shown herself to be a woman of integrity, courage and compassion, and brings enormous experience to this new ministry.

‘I know that all members of the Church in Wales will hold Bishop Sarah and her family in their prayers as she undertakes this huge responsibility. We pray that God will bless, equip and strengthen her for the task ahead.’

See the statement on Facebook from the Church in Wales.

The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said ‘On behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church, I warmly welcome the appointment of the Rt Rev and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

‘This is a historic appointment. The Scottish Episcopal Church honours the ministry of women, and it is therefore a great delight to see that for the first time, the primus inter pares of the Anglican Communion is a woman.’

Read the statement from the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The Most Revd John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, shared his ‘best wishes to Bishop Sarah Mullally on her nomination to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury…[and assured] her of the prayers of the members of the Church of Ireland as she enters into this challenging and important role in the life of the Anglican Communion.’

Read the statement on Facebook from the Church of Ireland.

The Rt Revd Bishop Robert Innes, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, commented, ‘I am delighted that the Crown Nominations Commission has come to the conclusion of a careful and thorough process and agreed on such an inspired choice of candidate. The selection of a woman for Canterbury will be of particular encouragement to the women in our diocese. I have known and worked with Bishop Sarah for many years in the House of Bishops, and I believe she has the qualities and gifts our Church needs at this time.’

See the statement from the Diocese of Europe.

Africa

The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of Southern Africa, wished ‘warm congratulations to Archbishop-elect Sarah Mullally. The historic appointment of the first woman as Archbishop of Canterbury is a thrilling development. We heartily welcome the announcement and look forward to working with her as we all try to respond prophetically and pastorally to what God is up to in God’s world.’

See the statement on Facebook from the Primate of Southern Africa.

The Most Revd Dr Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Chairman of The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), shared that this event was ‘grievous’ though ‘not unexpected’, suggesting that this choice ‘is one further symptom of the crisis of faith and authority that has afflicted the Anglican Communion for the past quarter of a century’.

See the statement from the Primate of South Sudan.

Asia

Church of North India (United) commented that ‘This landmark moment is not only a celebration of your personal journey of faith, dedication and service, but also a powerful witness to the inclusive and transformative love of Christ that the Anglican Communion seeks to embody… [This] appointment brings hope and inspiration to women and girls across the Communion and beyond, affirming the gifts and calling of women in the life and leadership of the Church.’

Read the statement on Facebook from the Church of North India (United).

Church of South India assured the new archbishop-designate of their prayers in a private letter, saying, ‘May God bless you and strengthen you in all your new responsibilities. I hope and believe that we will continue our solidarity with the Anglican Communion in all the efforts you are planning to take for the development of God's Kingdom and the community at large.’

The Most Revd Dr Titus Chung Bishop of Singapore Primate of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia, shared that the appointment of Bishop Mullally was ‘a missed opportunity for the Global Anglican Communion to find common cause and re-unite through the affirmation of traditional teachings of God’s Word.’

Read the statement from the Province of the Anglican Church of South East Asia.

Oceania

The three archbishops in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, the Most Revd Don Tamihere, the Most Revd Sione Ulu’ilakepa and the Most Revd Justin Duckworth, sent a message of celebration and ‘unequivocal support’.

‘All through scripture, in every generation, there is significant and crucial female leadership. This is nothing new to us. The call of God upon women has always been present and powerful, and to ignore it is to misrepresent the truth of our faith... We take a moment, too, to thank the Crown Nominations Commission, the body that poured hours into prayerful discernment, listening for the will of God in shaping leadership for Anglicans across the globe. Among them was our own Reverend Canon Isaac Beach of Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti, honoured to lend his voice to that worldwide process.’

Read the full statement from the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

The Most Revd Kay Goldsworthy, Archbishop of Perth, described the appointment as ‘Wonderful news for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion’ and the Anglican Board of Mission - Australia shared on their Facebook page, that they ‘Celebrate’ the selection of the ‘first woman to hold the role of leader of the Church of England, only 11 years after the CofE first allowed women to become bishops’.

See the statement on Facebook from the Archbishop of Perth and the Anglican Board of Mission – Australia.

For more information

See the Archbishop of Canterbury’s video message to the Anglican Communion.

Read the first address of the archbishop-designate, the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally DBE, in Canterbury Cathedral.