The Revd Stephen Holland of the Westhoughton Evangelical Church and the Protestant Truth Society sought to oppose the confirmation of the election of the Right Reverend Sarah Mullally to the See of London. The vicar-general noted that usually a minister of a church not in communion with the Church of England who is not resident in the diocese concerned would lack sufficient interest in the proceedings to stand as an opposer, but in this case special citation had been directed to the Revd Holland and on that ground alone the vicar-general allowed him to appear.

The Revd Holland argued that the assumption by a woman of a role of leadership in the church was contrary to Scripture and tradition and contended that the Church of England, in permitting that ministry, had erroneously been led by the spirit of the age rather than adhering to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The vicar-general held that the appointment of a bishop was a legal process governed by the Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 2014 and Canon C 2(1). There was no legal or doctrinal impediment preventing the confirmation of the election of Bishop Mullally, who had, in fact, been discharging episcopal functions since her consecration to the suffragan see of Crediton. The Revd Holland’s arguments had no foundation in law. The vicar-general dismissed his objection and directed that he be debarred from pursuing further the objection made to the court. [RA]