Church leader concealed romance partner for extended time period - Long-standing British Archbishop concealed romantic partner for extended period.
A Milestone for Inclusivity: Cherry Vann, the First Openly Gay and Female Archbishop of Wales
Cherry Vann, a trailblazer in the Anglican Church, has made history as the first woman and the first openly gay partnered bishop to serve as a primate in the Anglican Communion. Her appointment as the Archbishop of Wales, announced last week, marks a significant milestone for inclusivity within the Church.
Vann's journey, however, has not been without challenges. As one of the first women ordained as a priest in England in 1994, she found herself in a male-dominated institution. For decades, she had to hide her sexuality while advancing in her clerical career, as same-sex relationships were only technically allowed but expected to be celibate in the Church of England during much of her earlier ministry.
This all changed upon joining the Church in Wales in 2020, where clergy in same-sex civil partnerships, like Vann's partnership with Wendy Diamond since 2015, are openly accepted. Despite the acceptance in Wales, Vann's appointment has sparked fierce criticism from some Anglican leaders worldwide, who consider her election as a rejection of traditional biblical teaching.
In an interview with The Guardian, Vann reflected on the tension between her private life and her public ministry as she rose to become the UK's first female archbishop and the first openly gay partnered bishop to serve as a primate in the Anglican Communion. This relationship has been publicly acknowledged since at least 2015 and remains an important aspect of her identity within the Church.
Vann's relationship with Wendy Diamond, who is now a regular presence during Vann's services in the Church in Wales, has been ongoing for 30 years. During her time in the Church of England, Vann kept her relationship a secret for fear of being outed in a newspaper. She recounted unpleasant comments and anger from men due to her gender.
The Church in Wales, like the Church of England, is part of the Anglican Communion. The interview took place in London, and the Church in Wales permits same-sex partnerships without the requirement of celibacy, unlike the Church of England during Vann's time there.
Vann was ordained a deacon in 1989 in the Church of England and has been active in the Church in Wales since 2020. Her appointment as the 15th person to hold the role of Archbishop of Wales is a testament to her resilience and commitment to the Church. This milestone, while a significant step forward for inclusivity, also illustrates ongoing tensions within the global Communion.
- Cherry Vann's appointment as the Archbishop of Wales, in a Church that accepts her same-sex partnership, contradicts the strict employment policy of the Church of England during her earlier ministry, where she deliberately hid her sexuality.
- As Vann ascends as the UK's first female archbishop and the first openly gay partnered bishop in the Anglican Communion, she openly discusses the conflicts between her lifestyle and her public ministry, particularly in terms of the differing employment policies between the Church of England and the Church in Wales.
- Vann's partnership with Wendy Diamond, which has been a cornerstone of her personal growth, has experienced public acknowledgement since 2015 but faced challenges in the male-dominated, traditional environment of the Church of England.
- Lifestyle changes, including the shift in education-and-self-development and general-news regarding same-sex relationships, have led to a more inclusive employment policy in the Church in Wales, allowing for openly partnered clergy like Vann to serve.
- Vann's journey, filled with advocacy for change in love-and-dating policies and relationships, as well as her commitment to personal-growth and inclusion, represents a considerable milestone in the politics of the Anglican Communion, despite ongoing criticism from some leaders who adhere to traditional biblical teachings.
