The Frontrunner to Become the Next Archbishop of Canterbury is a Woman?
Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, is the leading candidate to succeed Justin Welby as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, potentially becoming the first woman to hold the role in the Church of England’s nearly 1,500-year history, according to an article published in The Telegraph.
An Iranian-born refugee, Francis-Dehqani is favored with 2/1 odds, as reported by British betting sites Ladbrokes and Star Sports, to lead 85 million Anglicans in 165 countries .
Welby resigned last year amid controversy over his mishandling of a sex abuse scandal, having overseen historic progressive shifts in the church, including inexorable advances in LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Francis-Dehqani, known for her progressive stance, has advocated for priests to enter same-sex marriages, greater acceptance of same-sex blessings, and is a proponent of more mass migration and a loosening of border restrictions for immigrants.
In order to secure the win, she must receive 2/3rds of the support of voting members in a secret ballot, which is expected to take place in October.