John Adoyi
In a surprising turn for the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on Tuesday, announced his resignation stating that he was stepping down “in sorrow” after 11 years as the head of the Anglican Church.
Welby’s departure comes amid growing fallout from a review that found him and other senior clerics had failed to address or adequately investigate allegations of abuse involving Christian summer camps decades ago.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe allegations centred around John Smyth, a British lawyer, who volunteered at Christian summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s both in England and Africa.
Smyth was accused of abusing over 100 boys and young men. Though the abuses occurred decades ago, the review found that senior church officials, including Welby, failed to pursue a thorough investigation following the 2013 disclosure of the allegations, the same year Welby became Archbishop.
Smyth died in 2018 in South Africa without facing legal consequences. The report claimed that he would have been brought to justice if Archbishop Welby and other top officials did not allegedly cover up the crime.
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In his resignation letter, the 68-year-old cleric expressed regret, saying, “I must take personal and institutional responsibility for lack of action on the heinous abuses.” He added that recent revelations had brought back his “long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England.”
“The last few days have renewed my commitment to ensuring the Church of England acknowledges its past and creates a safer church,” Welby wrote. “I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church understands the need for change.” Welby reiterated that he first became aware of Smyth’s abuses in 2013, the same year he assumed the role of archbishop.
Despite stating he had been unaware of Smyth’s abuses until 2013, Welby acknowledged his failure to ensure the case received a robust investigation thereafter. “Since that time, the way in which the Church of England engages with victims and survivors has changed beyond recognition,” he added, noting that new safeguards have been implemented to prevent similar failures.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Church’s second-ranking cleric, called Welby’s resignation “the right and honourable thing to do.”
The process to select the next Archbishop of Canterbury involves a committee of clerics and a chairperson nominated by the British Prime Minister. According to sources, potential candidates include Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, and Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford.
Welby’s resignation marks a significant moment in the history of the Anglican Church and underscores the growing demand for accountability within religious institutions worldwide.
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