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First female Archbishop appointed to lead Church of England

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Sarah Mullally was the first female Bishop of London [FILE: June 2024] © Isabel Infantes/REUTERS

Sarah Mullally will become the first female leader when she officially takes charge of the church in March 2026. A group of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia criticized the appointment.

Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, making her the first female leader of the Church of England.

The former chief nursing officer for England will be confirmed as the church’s top bishop at a legal ceremony in the coming months.

In her first words after confirmation of her appointment, Mullally said while the role is a “huge responsibility,” she feels a sense of “peace and trust in God to carry me.”

Mullally will legally become Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral in January.

Spiritual leader of Anglican Church

Mullally takes over the role from Justin Welby, who resigned in November 2024 and left office in January 2025 after failures in handling an abuse scandal.

Mullally will become the ceremonial head of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, but GAFCON — a grouping of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia, criticized Mullally’s appointment.

The group said her appointment showed that the English arm of the Church had “relinquished its authority to lead.”

Although King Charles III is head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church.

Reforms allowed a woman to take Archbishop role

Mullally was ordained as a priest in 2002 and became one of the first women to be consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England in 2015.

She served as Bishop of London since 2018 and has been known to be progressive, championing causes such as allowing blessings for same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages.

Eleven years ago reforms were introduced to allow a woman to the hold the office, meaning Mullally could become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence,” she said in her first statement since the historic appointment.

“I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.”

King Charles gave formal consent for appointment

As is tradition, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office formally announced Mullally’s appointment after the formal consent of King Charles.

As monarch, Charles is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The role was established in the 16th century after King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together,” Starmer said in a statement.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

Correction: This article, originally published on October 3, 2025, was corrected on October 6, 2025, to remove information about the church’s history. The church has existed for over 400 years, not 1,400.

Religion

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis Spotted Ushering At Shiloh 2025 (Video)

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A viral video captures Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis carrying out ushering duries at the ongoing Shiloh 2025.

‎It would be recalled that Shiloh 2025 commenced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and will wrap up on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

In the video, which has sparked mixed reactions online, the governor is seen in a suit as he carries out ushering duties.

‎ However, a young man in a suit is spotted behind him while the choir sings on.

Reactions Trailing Below……
‎Nna Aguwa remarked, “So people are still moved by this act ? So if i stand in as an usher i will automatically be a wonderful person . No be today them dey show us well dedicated usher and pastors wey be kingpins”.

Pamela kin, “So can’t he be an usher again what’s so special about him wey him no fit be conductor”.

Elder Ajayi, “The difference he could make as a governor matters most don’t forget Judas was a leading Apostle before he fell”.

‎David Gladys, “So waiting come happen ? He knows d benefits of serving God and that’s why he’s doing it I no see any big deal way make bloggers carry am way God dey bless am for his service in his presence”.

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N1.4 Trillion not enough to get me into politics – Bishop Oyedepo reveals

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The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.

He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.

Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

 

He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.

In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?

“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”

The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.

He added, “The world is groaning in darkness, but as written in Romans 8:19, the whole world is waiting for the earnest manifestation of the sons of God.”

According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.

 

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Adeboye explains why he no longer employs female secretaries

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Adeboye

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has shed light on why he no longer employs female secretaries, linking the decision to his desire to avoid situations that could jeopardise his spiritual focus.

The 83-year-old spoke on the subject during his sermon titled “Jonah Must Go” on day two of the Holy Ghost Congress 2025 at the Redemption Camp, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The church uploaded the sermon on its YouTube page on Tuesday.

Adeboye recalled that he once had a female secretary while serving at Ebute Metta in Lagos State, but decided to dismiss her when he moved to the camp, believing the change was necessary for his spiritual discipline.

He said he made the choice because he wanted the “Jonah” in his life to depart.

Adeboye said: “From the moment I got to this campground, from the moment I got to a stage where at night I still have to work, I ceased to have a female secretary. Some people think it is gender discrimination. I know myself. I know who I was before Jesus saved my soul.

“I see the possibility of being left alone at night with the opposite sex. Oh, but if you are to get a secretary like the last one I had, she was a wonderful child of God.

“She was my secretary at Ebute Metta. Wonderful lady. True child of the living God. And when I arrived, I knew I would still be in the office at 3 a.m. And I could imagine, after a long day’s work, everybody finally sees the last visitor. And then my secretary comes at 2 a.m.

“’We are through now, sir. Is there any way I can help you? Like, you know, a cup of tea to relax?’ Jonah must go.”

He also shared examples involving two RCCG pastors whom he advised to dismiss their female secretaries. According to him, one pastor obeyed and later became “a great man of God,” while the other ignored the advice and eventually strayed.

“There is one of my sons here. A great man of God. When he started, his ministry was tiny. He came to me from the north. He said, ‘Daddy, I have a problem.’ I said, ‘What’s your problem?’ He said, ‘I always feel excited when it is Monday.’ ‘What’s the problem with that?’ He said, ‘Because I’ll be going to the office on Monday.’ I said, ‘Yeah, what’s the problem?’ He said, ‘The reason I feel excited about going to the office on Monday is that I want to see my secretary again.’

“He said, ‘What should I do? What’s wrong? What prayer?’ I said, ‘Prayer? As soon as you get home, sack her. Pay whatever you have to pay.’ He said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He got back to the office the following Monday. And told the girl, ‘Thank you very much. We’ll pay you this much for notice. But you, you cease to be my secretary from today.’ She erupted. Not that I blame her.

“I know where you are coming from. You’ve gone to visit that stupid man you call your father. My son says, ‘Call him stupid. Just go.’ Today, he is a great man of God. Why? Because Jonah had gone,” he said.

The cleric explained that the second pastor, who once led an RCCG church in the United States, was later relieved of his position after refusing to dismiss his secretary. The pastor eventually married the secretary and started his own ministry.

“I had another son, who was pastoring one of our big churches in America. And I had some things. So I brought him here. I told him, ‘Sack that secretary.’

“He said, ‘You’re joking, sir. We’re not talking about Nigeria. We’re talking about America.’ I said, ‘Is that so? Sack her.’ He said, ‘No way.’ Well, at the end of the day, we had to relieve him. The husband of the secretary was cross with me.

“Took a harsh decision. Only for him to discover. I think four out of the five children the woman had belonged to a former pastor. And it didn’t end there. It wasn’t long before the lady chased the pastor out. And became the owner of the pastor. God has mercy on pastors. Anything that can truncate your destiny.”

Addressing the congregation, Adeboye urged Christians to sever ties that do not aid their spiritual growth, adding that ending such relationships may also help the other party.

“When you look at the parable of Jonah. You may begin to say, ‘If I cut off this relationship. If I throw Jonah into the ocean…’ Leave the rest to God. The God of all flesh. Until they threw Jonah into the sea. He wasn’t going to where God wanted him to go. Leave the rest to the God of all flesh,” Adeboye said.

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