MOSCOW, December 17 (Sputnik) – The Church of England has named the first female bishop, putting an end to religious male leadership and furthering the promotion of female priests, according to the Guardian.
The new appointment comes 20 years after the first women were ordained as Church of England priests in 1994, according to BBC. It is expected to end the era of male leadership and give women an opportunity to take senior religious positions.
Libby Lane served as deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994. Since 2010 she also held the position of Dean of Women in Ministry for the diocese of Cheshire.
First female bishop named Reverend Libby Lane http://t.co/7FAp7Vut5Z Lots of prayers for her as every move she makes will be scrutinised.
— Penteana (@Penteana) 17 декабря 2014
The Church of England approved the new legislation in November 2014, what was then considered a serious step towards promoting women's rights and changing the religious culture of the country. However, England’s society remains divided into Anglicans who are ready to accept the new initiative and traditionalists who consider such changes incompatible with their faith, according to BBC.
