UK’s first lesbian archbishop fires back at bigots: ‘It’s not wrong to love my partner’

The UK’s first lesbian archbishop has hit back at critics, saying it was “not wrong” for her to love her female partner.

Cherry Vann served as the bishop of Monmouth for five years before being elected archbishop of Wales in July. She replaced Andy John, who retired after safeguarding reports highlighted failures at his Bangor diocese.

Vann became the first female, as well as first lesbian, leader of the Church in Wales.

Some more-conservative members of the community were not impressed with the appointment, and Vann revealed earlier this month that she had faced “hurtful” messages on WhatsApp from other church leaders and had been unable to look at social media for fear of abuse.

Critics claimed that the Church in Wales had “departed from the teachings of the Bible” and that Vann’s appointment was “another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy”.

In response, Vann said she has always known she was gay but never felt rejected by God, and that she was “where [He] wants me to be, and that’s all that matters”.

Speaking to Premier Christian News, she said: “[I] never heard God say to me, ‘Who you are is wrong, who you love is wrong, you are living in sin’. I have never heard that from God.

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The new Archbishop of Wales has responded to criticism of her appointment by conservatives in the church. The new Archbishop of Wales, Rev. Cherry Vann, became the UK’s first female and first openly gay archbishop last month, and the first openly lesbian and partnered bishop to serve as a primate within the Anglican communion. Her appointment was met with disapproval from some who believe it contradicts biblical teachings. Speaking to Premier Christian News she said: “Christians hold different views on all manner of subjects, divorce, remarriage, ab0rtion, assisted dy1ng, to name but a few. I mean, we are not all of one mind on most things. And you know, the church changes its position. It learns a broader understanding of God’s love.” Vann stood her ground, adding: “I am the person for this moment,” she added. “I know that I’m where God wants me to be, and that’s all that matters.” #lgbtqtiktok #gayuk #gaypride

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“Christians hold different views on all manner of subjects: divorce, remarriage, abortion, assisted dying, to name but a few. We are not all of one mind on most things. And the Church changes its position. It learns a broader understanding of God’s love.

“My understanding is that the kinds of relationship that the Bible [condemns are ones that] are purely for sexual gratification… abusive. They are not talking, in my view, about long-term loving relationships that I and many other LGBT+ people enjoy.

“I cannot see how loving somebody as I love my partner could be wrong.”

It would be “very sad” if people felt they had to leave the Anglican Church because of her appointment and “would ask them to reconsider”, she added.

“People are perfectly entitled to their views but I want to preside over a Church where we can learn to disagree. I believe the Church is better and richer for being more inclusive and more diverse.

“It’s the beginning of a conversation, a relationship, hopefully, of mutual respect, where we’re not trying to change [other people’s] mind but we recognise that we’re all children of God, and God calls us to love one another as Jesus loves each one of us.”

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