A former oil executive who supports women being ordained as ministers has been named as the new archbishop of Canterbury, the top spot within the Anglican church.
A former oil executive who supports women being ordained as ministers has been named as the new archbishop of Canterbury, the top spot within the Anglican church.
Rt. Rev. Justin Welby was named to the post Friday, and will replace outgoing Bishop Rowan Williams in a ceremony on March 21, becoming the official leader of the 77 million Anglicans in the world.
Welby came out in favour of women being ordained during his first press conference in his new position, saying that he would vote “yes” in a vote 10 days from now on the issue.
He is still hesitant on the issue of same-sex marriage, saying that there was no place for homophobia in the church, and that he was thinking “carefully and prayerfully,” about it, reports the BBC.
Welby was ordained in 1992. Prior to that, he was educated at Cambridge University and worked in the oil industry for 11 years. He has also been part of a special envoy which worked to improve relations between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.