by David Virtue, VOL
It took two weeks to elect a new pope. It will take more than a year to elect a new Archbishop of Canterbury. The politicking is fierce. A recent report put the Iranian born woman bishop, Guli Francis-Dehqani, bishop of Chelmsford, as the leading contender, but all bets are off till the moment of truth arrives. You can read that story here: https://www.virtueonline.org/post/church-of-england-may-get-its-first-female-archbishop-of-canterbury
But there are some truths behind the scenes that VOL has learned that will explain how it is impossible for someone who is orthodox in faith and morals to win the coveted Lambeth Palace. The Church of England may get its first female Archbishop in the Church of England, according to odds posted by British betting firms.
Guli Francis-Dehqani, 58, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next archbishop of Canterbury. British betting firms have placed her as the early favorite to succeed the Rev. Justin Welby, who stepped down in January.
Francis-Dehqani’s odds were placed at evens and 2 to 1 by the firms Ladbrokes and Star Sports, according to The Telegraph. If selected, she would become the 106th archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold the office.
According to numbers released last year by the Church of England General Synod, women comprise around 30% of bishops in the denomination.
A nomination requires support from two-thirds of voting members in a secret ballot, with a formal nomination for Welby’s successor expected by autumn.
Last November, Welby announced his decision to step down in the wake of criticism over the Church’s handling of an abuse scandal involving barrister and Christian camp leader John Smyth.
The Church of England’s moment has come and gone. When they elected Justin Welby over Michael Nazir-Ali then Bishop of Rochester, the mistake proved fatal. Like a wounded Serengeti lion, the death of the Church of England is only a matter of time.
See also: Appointment of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
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