Some people have left the church because I am a gay woman, says Archbishop

Any parishioners have left the Church in Wales in protest over her sexuality and gender, according to the Archbishop of Wales. In July, the Most Reverend Cherry Vann, the UK's first female Archbishop as well as the first openly gay Archbiscop in the world, was both a first female archbishop and the country's youngest archbiscop. Speaking ahead of giving her first Christmas message as Archbishop, she said she had been harmed by rumors about her sexuality, but that people with different viewpoints should not be barred from speaking out about their views. It came after the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), who characterized her appointment as "another painful nail in AngliCAN orthodoxy's

There are still patches all over the place where people continue to struggle with women in leadership, and I must acknowledge that.

The Church in Wales is trying to welcome LGBT people, but I also acknowledge that there are people in the Church in Cardiff who find it difficult. "Unfortunately, some people have felt the need to leave, and I take it seriously.

Following the retirement of her predecessor, Andrew John, in the summer, Archbishop Vann was elected by her fellow bishops with a two-thirds majority. At Bangor Cathedral, members of the church, who were unemployed, overtuously drinking, and church members overstepping sexual boundaries were all revealed. The overwhelming majority of people had been supportive of her election, according to Archbishop Vann, but some had been quite hostile.It can be very hurtful, she said.It's difficult to hear some of the people's words, but I think it's important that they have the opportunity to say so.

I don't want people to feel shut down or silenced simply because I have a different viewpoint.

But it does hurt because it seems that it is an assault on who I am and what God has ordered me to be. "We must find a way as a Church to honor one another's beliefs and find synchrony in our faith in Christ despite our differences.

Despite widespread interest in her election due to her sex and gender, Archbishop Vann said that these were not the most important factors to her. Other people find it fascinating, she said.

I had a lot of people call me rejoicing at my election and saying how much hope and confidence they get from the fact that there is now a woman in the role – and a civilly partnered woman at that.

I've had the opposite as well. That's just life

. The Archbishop said in her Christmas message that she had chosen a passage from the Gospel of John about finding light in the darkness, a common choice at carol services.

It's really about how Jesus came into the world, the light in the shadow,she said.Our message as Christians is that Jesus comes into all the struggle and wretchedness and despair and sheds the light of hope, love, and joy because of who he is.

Archbishop Vann said she was acutely aware of her role in the aftermath of her predecessor's defection. When asked whether her time as Archbishop should be judged against her ability to change the Church's culture, she said it was a significant challenge.

I think there is a big cultural problem in the Church,

she said.

Anybody who has tried to change the culture in an organization will tell you that it takes a long time.

This is a big thing, and I suspect there will still be a lot of work to do when I retire.

We need (we) need) to provide greater care for those who have been harmed by the Church, of which unfortunately there are many.

I am hopeful that we are already making improvements. "There are those people who are determined to make a difference and ensure that the Church is a place where people are treated properly and that, if things go wrong.