Bishop of London breaks down in tears lamenting ‘micro-aggressions nonetheless confronted by girls within the Church of England’
The first female Bishop of London broke down in tears at a church national assembly meeting over the ‘micro-aggressions’ women in the Church of England still face.
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE choked up at a meeting of the General Synod – also known as the Church’s Parliament – this week.
She was speaking about her suggestion that at least two of the six people elected from each of the local bishop recruitment committees to the national body for choosing the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, should be women.
In her speech to the national assembly about the bodies that appoint those two most senior Church posts, Right Rev Mullally said: ‘I would love to trust people to do the right thing but the truth is that women continue to be underrepresented.’
She continued: ‘I would love to encourage women, which I do all the time, but there continues to be institutional barriers, we continue to experience microaggressions.’
The Bishop – who was the first woman to take on this third most senior role in the Church in 2018 – then broke down in tears and was met with 40 seconds of straight applause from the hundreds of Synod members watching on.
She also received a standing ovation from mostly women, joined by a few men.
The 62-year-old, formerly Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health, is the most senior woman in the Church and sits in the House of Lords as part of her role.
The first female Bishop of London broke down in tears (pictured) at a church national assembly meeting over the ‘micro-aggressions’ women in the Church of England still face
The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE (pictured) choked up at a meeting of the General Synod – also known as the Church’s Parliament – this week
She was speaking about her suggestion that at least two of the six people elected from each of the local bishop recruitment committees to the national body for choosing the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, should be women
Right Rev Mullally had to pause and turn away from the podium twice to recover herself as she was overcome with emotion.
After a reassuring hand on her shoulder from the man sat next to her, she gestured to the audience to sit down, joking: ‘You’re using up my time! And people will say that I have manipulated you, I have not.’
Right Rev Mullally started her speech this week saying: ‘I have to say that I am surprised that I have had to bring the requirement that at least one lay and one cleric elected from the Vacancy in See Committee to the CNC [the Crown Nominations Commission] are female.
‘However, in Durham, there was no female clergy. In Exeter, no female clergy. In Coventry, no female clergy.
‘One in Winchester, one in Sodor and Man, one in Ely, one in St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.
‘I would love to trust people to do the right thing but the truth is that women continue to be underrepresented.
‘Women’s voices continue not to be heard, not just on the CNC but also in other places.’
She continued: ‘In the diocese, I believe that most dioceses have 50% men, 50% women. Why are we not ensuring that our members from the Vacancy In See, in the CNC, towards the central members, are 50% men, 50% women?
In her speech to the national assembly about the bodies that appoint those two most senior Church posts, Right Rev Mullally said: ‘I would love to trust people to do the right thing but the truth is that women continue to be underrepresented’
She continued: ‘I would love to encourage women, which I do all the time, but there continues to be institutional barriers, we continue to experience microaggressions’
‘Even if we only allow two posts, one cleric and one laity, to be a woman, we still have four who are men.
‘I would love to encourage women, which I do all the time, but there continues to be institutional barriers, we continue to experience micro-aggressions.’
After managing to fight back her tears, Right Rev Mullally finished: ‘We have said we want to hear the voices of women.
‘I challenge you: don’t just say it, don’t just wear the blue ribbon, but do something about it.’
The title of Bishop of London also comes with the position of Dean of the Chapel Royal, making the Right Rev the first woman to head the royal family’s church.
She is also a member of the Privy Council, the body of senior House of Commons and House of Lords politicians that advises the King on certain issues.
Right Rev Mullally was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 for her contribution to nursing and midwifery.
The married mother-of-two was ordained later in life, first training for the ministry starting in 2001.
The 62-year-old (pictured), formerly Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health, is the most senior woman in the Church and sits in the House of Lords as part of her role
Right Rev Mullally speaks to Lila (right), 11, and Lois (left), 10, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London – the Bishop’s seat – before they became the first girl choristers in the cathedral choir’s 900-year history last year
The title of Bishop of London also comes with the position of Dean of the Chapel Royal, making the Right Rev the first woman to head the royal family’s church (pictured, Right Rev Mullally at a service last year)
The CNC, or Crown Nominations Commission, is the national church body that helps appoint the two most senior Church officials, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, when there is a vacancy.
Alongside others, there are six members from each of the Vacancy In See Committees – local bodies in dioceses across the country that help fill bishop vacancies – elected to the CNC.
The Bishop of London had suggested an amendment to regulations to require at least two of those six members from each committee – one clergy and one not – to be women.
The General Synod, the Church’s Parliament, has 483 members – including the Right Rev – and has powers to make laws for the Church of England.
