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Church of England Names Rev. Libby Lane as First Female Bishop Church of England Names Rev. Libby Lane as First Female Bishop
(35 minutes later)
The Church of England on Wednesday named the Rev. Libby Lane, a priest for 20 years in the north of England, as its first female bishop, just weeks after church authorities took the final step to reverse centuries of canon law to initiate what the archbishop of Canterbury called “a completely new phase of our existence.” The Church of England on Wednesday named the Rev. Libby Lane, a priest for 20 years in the north of England, as its first female bishop, just weeks after church authorities took the final step to reverse centuries of canon law to begin what the archbishop of Canterbury called “a completely new phase of our existence.”
Ms. Lane, 48, who has served as a priest in several parts of the north of England, will be consecrated on Jan. 26, the Church of England said on its website.Ms. Lane, 48, who has served as a priest in several parts of the north of England, will be consecrated on Jan. 26, the Church of England said on its website.
“This is unexpected and very exciting,” Ms. Lane said in a statement on the website. “On this historic day, as the Church of England announces the first woman nominated to be bishop, I am very conscious of all those who have gone before me, women and men, who for decades have looked forward to this moment. But most of all I am thankful to God.”“This is unexpected and very exciting,” Ms. Lane said in a statement on the website. “On this historic day, as the Church of England announces the first woman nominated to be bishop, I am very conscious of all those who have gone before me, women and men, who for decades have looked forward to this moment. But most of all I am thankful to God.”
Ms. Lane is to become the Bishop of Stockport, in northwest England, a position that lacks the status of a full, diocesan bishop but nonetheless marks a historic shift roughly 20 years after the Church of England first ordained female priests. Technically, she will be an assistant in the diocese of Chester. Ms. Lane is to become the bishop of Stockport, in northwest England, a position that lacks the status of a full, diocesan bishop but nonetheless is a historic shift roughly 20 years after the Church of England first ordained female priests. Technically, she will be an assistant in the diocese of Chester.
Ms. Lane’s husband, George, is also a priest, and they were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together, the church said.Ms. Lane’s husband, George, is also a priest, and they were one of the first married couples in the Church of England to be ordained together, the church said.
“Her interests include being a school governor, encouraging social action initiatives, learning to play the saxophone, supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords,” the church added in a brief biography on its website.“Her interests include being a school governor, encouraging social action initiatives, learning to play the saxophone, supporting Manchester United, reading and doing cryptic crosswords,” the church added in a brief biography on its website.
The halting process toward her consecration reflected deep divisions between liberals and conservatives in the Church of England that are likely to be cemented rather than resolved by the move.The halting process toward her consecration reflected deep divisions between liberals and conservatives in the Church of England that are likely to be cemented rather than resolved by the move.
“Without prayer and repentance, it is hard to see how we can avoid some serious fractures,” said the Most Rev. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, who backed the push for female bishops, after a final vote on the matter last month.“Without prayer and repentance, it is hard to see how we can avoid some serious fractures,” said the Most Rev. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, who backed the push for female bishops, after a final vote on the matter last month.
The archbishop is the senior leader of the Church of England and the symbolic, spiritual leader of the broader Anglican Communion, which claims some 80 million followers around the world. It includes the Episcopal Church in the United States, in which women have served as bishops for years. The archbishop is the senior leader of the Church of England and the symbolic, spiritual leader of the broader Anglican Communion, which claims about 80 million followers around the world. It includes the Episcopal Church in the United States, in which women have served as bishops for years.
The Church of England first agreed to the appointment of women bishops in July, and it took the final step with a show of hands at its General Synod on Nov. 17, after the British Parliament approved the measure. The Church of England first agreed to the appointment of women as bishops in July, and it took the final step with a show of hands at its General Synod on Nov. 17, after the British Parliament approved the measure.
The appointment of Ms. Lane comes almost four decades after the Church of England first considered the ordination of women, in 1975. That initiative faltered in 1978.The appointment of Ms. Lane comes almost four decades after the Church of England first considered the ordination of women, in 1975. That initiative faltered in 1978.
“It has taken a very, very long time,” Archbishop Welby said last month, "and the way is now open to select people for the episcopacy, to nominate them on the basis simply of our sense that they are called by God to be in that position without qualification as to their gender.” . “It has taken a very, very long time,” Archbishop Welby said last month, “and the way is now open to select people for the episcopacy, to nominate them on the basis simply of our sense that they are called by God to be in that position without qualification as to their gender.”