Time for a new letter, by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

In honour of Dame Sarah Mullaley, Archbishop of Canterbury

Dear St Paul

It has been thousands of years since you wrote a series of letters

To many churches and persons

Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians and more

You also wrote epistles to Timothy, Titus and Philemon

The letters have helped shape Christian faith

They have provided inspiration, hope, and direction.

It is however time for you to send another letter

There are many nations and churches you could write to at this point in our history

Too many to list

But I would like you to consider writing a letter to theChurch of England

Remember there was this selfish, randy, stubborn King of England

Henry V111

In 1534, he wanted to annul his marriage to his Catholic Queen

Catherine of Aragon

So that he could marry Anne Boleyn and get a male heir

He was one of many men before and after him

who try to play God, but I digress

Pope Clement V11 said No

So,King Henry simply set up his own church, with his own Archbishop and the rest

You probably should have sent a letter then

God Almighty does indeed work in mysterious ways

Inspite of the origins of this new Church

It has called millions of souls to the ways of the Lord

Including mine

The teachings of the new church are not totally different from the old one

This means your copious letters have continued to be relevant

There is however a problem

In Timothy 2: 12, you wrote, ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, rather, she is to remain quiet’

Then you wrote, in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35: ‘Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission – if they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home’

Over millennia, men have taken it upon themselves to interpret your letters to suit their own agendas

They have clung to these words and used them to justify the silencing and exclusion of women from leadership in the home, society and church

Yet, you also wrote in Galatians 3:28, ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female’

Even though you sounded rather harsh in your thoughts on women

You did not ignore the role women were playing in the emerging church during your time

You acknowledged Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia, Euodia and Syntyche

It is time for you to write another letter

In these times, in the year of our Lord 2026

Women are no longer silent

Women now teach the word of God

Women now have authority

Dame Sarah Mulalley

Has just been installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Primate of the Church of England

Ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion

Many men within the church and beyond are unhappy

They keep pointing to your letters

Many of us are happy

We remind them of what Jesus Christ our saviour thought of women’s leadership

He would have been thrilled to have Dame Sally with him

They keep telling us women were never disciples

Jesus only recognised men as leaders

Yet, we know this is not true

Women followed Jesus wherever he went

They were drawn to his teachings about kindness, dignity,forgiveness and love

Mary of Nazareth, mother of Jesus

Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joseph

Salome, Martha, Mary of Bethany, Joanna, Susanna and more

They travelled, cooked, hosted, nursed and mobilised

Some of them used their own resources for the Ministry

Their faith was strong and they were brave and loyal

Their names and deeds have endured

Even when attempts have been made to downplay their roles

They were the first to see Jesus when he resurrected

The disciples were nowhere to be found

Dear St Paul

It is time for another letter

A message in solidarity with our first female Archbishop of Canterbury

Pope Leo X1V has written to congratulate the new Archbishop

Expressing a commitment to ‘Christian unity and Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue’

Even the Pope knows the world will not come to an end with a female Archbishop of Canterbury

Women have always led

Women will always lead

In homes, farms, boardrooms, battlefields, workplaces of all callings

Women have led and will keep leading

The house of God is safe in the hands of women

Those who know what suffering and oppression means

 understand the value of salvation, compassion and empathy

It is time for a new letter

One that speaks of hope, joy and renewed faith

Long live, Dame Sarah Mulalley

Archbishop of Canterbury

Primate of the Church of England

Ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion

•Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Leadership Coach, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com

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