I long for the day when we don't note that an important appointment is given to a woman. But we're not there yet, so the news that the archbishop of Canterbury's new chaplain is to be the Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells is very good news indeed.

Bailey Wells has an impressive CV for the role, and it is not hard to see why she has been appointed, regardless of her sex. Her interest in conflict and reconciliation clearly overlaps with Justin Welby's own interests. Indeed, they were both speaking this week at a conference on Faith in Conflict. Moreover, she has detailed and recent experience of the church in America and Africa, as well as in England, which will be a significant asset in this role.

So she would probably have been appointed even if she were a man. But it is certainly also possible to read this appointment as a statement of intent. Welby has been very vocal in his support for women's ministry. He spoke strongly in favour of having women as bishops last November, when the legislation to allow that was so narrowly defeated. But actions are more revealing than statements. In this appointment, the new archbishop has put his soul where his mouth is, and shown – not just said – that he trusts women as priests.

In his first month preparing to be archbishop, Welby has made two appointments to his personal staff: Bailey Wells and, 10 days ago, Canon David Porter in the new post of director of reconciliation. Was it deliberate that one is a man, one a woman? Perhaps so: the archbishop is well aware of the power of the symbolic statement. It may well be that he fully intends these appointments, among other things, to say that he values men and women equally. Certainly, he will have been well aware that these first few appointments would be analysed to death – just as I'm doing here.

But this is too important a role to play games with. Bishops' chaplains work behind the scenes, so they are not often in the public eye, but they do a great deal to make their bishop's life easier, and to keep their bishop grounded. Bailey Wells will be responsible for praying for and with the archbishop; for organising services at Lambeth; and for scrutinising and assisting with the writing of other services that he participates in. Fundamentally, though, the job is to keep the archbishop sane. This is not an appointment that the archbishop can afford to waste on making a statement. He will have had to choose the person he thought was best for the job, because he simply can't risk not having a good chaplain.

Welby has appointed not just a woman, but an exceptionally able and intelligent woman. In doing so, he has shown two equally important things about his leadership. First that, unlike so many leaders, he is not someone who feels threatened or diminished by the talents of others. And second, that he doesn't have any hang-ups about the kind of ministry that might be suitable for a woman. He can recognise, value and use people's gifts and skills, whatever package they come in.

A sign of good intentions? Perhaps. But more importantly, a sign that this is a man who is able to see and use the gifts of both men and women, a man for whom a priest's gender really is not an issue. That is the most groundbreaking thing about this appointment, and the thing that gives me most hope for the future of our church.