A theologian welcomes lead Anglicans in Lent (8)
I believe the answer is:
advanced
'lent' is the definition.
(advancing is a kind of lending)
'a theologian welcomes lead anglicans' is the wordplay.
'theologian' becomes 'DD' (Doctor of Divinity degree).
'welcomes' indicates putting letters inside (in sense of 'invites in').
'lead' becomes 'van' (van is the leading part of a movement or group).
'anglicans' becomes 'ce' (Church of England).
'van'+'ce'='vance'
'dd' enclosing 'vance' is 'dvanced'.
'a'+'dvanced'='ADVANCED'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for advanced that I've seen before include "Hi-tec truck" , "Put forward; lent" , "not for a beginner" , "Went forward, being far on" , "Far ahead in development or progress" .)