The UK’s first ever lesbian archbishop has hit back at critics who claimed her appointment will lead to a church exodus, saying it is ‘not wrong’ for her to love her partner.
Cherry Vann, who is gay and living in a same-sex partnership, was named as the fifteenth Archbishop of Wales last month.
However, her appointment sparked controversy among conservatives who said it goes against biblical teaching and will lead directly to people leaving the church.
Susie Leafe, director of Anglican Futures, added that the move scuppers ‘any chance of the Anglican Communion coming back together’.
She explained that anyone who was ‘seriously minded’ about their faith, would now be ‘considering their options’.
Meanwhile, the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which represents conservative views, said Ms Vann’s appointment was ‘another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy’.
Responding to the criticism, the archbishop said she has never heard God say to her ‘who you love is wrong’ or that she is ‘living in sin’.
She added that the Bible is open to interpretation when it comes to social issues, such as same-sex relationships.
Cherry Vann, who is gay and living in a same-sex partnership, was named as the fifteenth Archbishop of Wales last month
Prior to her appointment as the Archbishop of Wales, Ms Vann, who is originally from Leicester, served as the Bishop of Monmouth
Ms Vann told Premier Christian News: ‘Christians hold different views on all manner of subjects, divorce, remarriage, abortion, assisted dying, to name but a few.
‘I mean, we are not all of one mind on most things. And you know, the church changes its position. It learns a broader understanding of God’s love.’
‘I cannot see how loving somebody as I love my partner could be wrong,’ she added.
When asked about whether the Church of Wales will conduct same-sex marriages in churches, she said she thought it would happen ‘in the not too distant future’.
Prior to her appointment as the Archbishop of Wales, Ms Vann, who is originally from Leicester, served as the Bishop of Monmouth for five years.
She replaced Andrew John, who retired last month after three-and-a-half years in the role.
Mr John’s departure followed a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral, which identified ‘a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred’ and ‘promiscuity was acceptable’.
She replaced Andrew John, pictured in 2023, who retired last month after three-and-a-half years in the role
There has been no suggestion Mr John behaved inappropriately and he commissioned two reports into the cathedral in October last year.
Speaking following her appointment, Ms Vann said: ‘The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and work to bring healing and reconciliation, and build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.’
Ms Vann was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and was among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994.
She then served as Archdeacon of Rochdale for 11 years.
