Hope

A profound moment for both the Anglican Communion and world Christianity: Sarah Mullally is installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to sit on the throne of Saint Augustine.

I loved how humbly she describes herself: one who has spent her life (as both a nurse and a pastor) “washing feet”.

I find the whole thing quite amazing, and intensely hopeful. Indeed, hope was Mullally’s theme in her address to General Synod this year.

Another joyful, hopeful aspect is that the man “installing” her (above) is David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, who is in a committed same-sex civil partnership, and has spoken, on numerous occasions, of his great pain and yet hope and persistence in serving within the present Church of England as an ordained gay man.

From where the western sea gnaws at the coast of Iona,

To the death in the desert, the prayer in forgotten places by the broken imperial column,

From such ground springs that which forever renews the earth

Though it is forever denied. Therefore, O God, we thank Thee

Who hast given such blessing to Canterbury.

- T.S. Eliot