The Interview Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani: We were outsiders
Jul 22, 2025
Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford and a leading candidate for Archbishop of Canterbury, shares her unique journey as an Iranian refugee. She discusses her Persian heritage and the emotional complexities of longing for home amidst exile. Guli emphasizes the need for modernizing the role of the Archbishop and championing inclusive dialogue within the Anglican Communion. She also sheds light on navigating diversity in the Church, advocating for marginalized communities and confronting challenges around leadership and social justice.
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Complex Iranian Identity
- Bishop Guli retains a deep connection and complex emotions about Iran despite living abroad for 45 years.
- She feels personal concern for the small Anglican community and hopes for Iran's peaceful reform.
Iranian Emotions Are Complex
- Emotions toward Iran can be intertwined, with loss of moral authority by the regime but also stronger nationalism against foreign intervention.
- The situation evokes complex, non-binary feelings among Iranians inside and outside the country.
Family Trauma After Iranian Revolution
- After the 1979 revolution, Bishop Guli's family faced extreme violence including an assassination attempt on her father and murder of her brother.
- These traumatic events were motivated by fear of the Christian church's presence in Iran.