The resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, has sent shockwaves throughout the Church of England and the wider Anglican community. Welby announced his departure following intense scrutiny over how he handled past abuse allegations stemming from the heinous actions of John Smyth, a notorious figure associated with the church. Smyth, who abused many young boys during the late 20th century, came under severe criticism from the independent Makin Review, which accused Church leaders, including Welby, of failing to act appropriately upon learning about these abuses.
Welby’s announcement to resign, which initially appeared to come as a surprise, followed days of growing pressure from victims’ advocates and church members who called for accountability. The Makin Review, published shortly before his resignation, concluded unequivocally: had Welby acted sooner by reporting Smyth's abuses to the authorities, it is plausible Smyth might have faced justice long before his death. This review was particularly damning as it highlighted the church's systemic failures to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.
For those unfamiliar, John Smyth was not just any ordinary church volunteer. Known for his role as the chairman of the Iwerne Trust, which funded Christian summer camps, he was accused of conducting brutal physical, sexual, and psychological abuses on boys from the late 1970s until his career effectively ended following his death in 2018. The Makin Review indicated Smyth perpetrated these crimes both at camps and during his travels to Africa, all the way to his final days when he was under investigation.
Welby took office as Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013, and the Makin Review revealed he was informed of Smyth's past abuses shortly after stepping onto the ecclesiastical stage. Critics argue he could have proposed more rigorous investigations at the time rather than merely relying on the church’s internal channels, which have been criticized for being too lenient. Welby, who is 68, expressed remorse during the resignation announcement, stating, “I must take personal and institutional responsibility” for the failures warned about by the review.
So, what’s next for the Church of England? With the exit of its leader, there has been much speculation about who will take over and how the church intends to implement reforms going forward. Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, will temporarily assume Welby’s responsibilities until the church figures out its next steps. According to Lambeth Palace, Welby will wrap up his final official duties by January 6, the Feast of Epiphany, marking the formal end to his nearly decade-long tenure.
Criticism has not only been directed at Welby but also at the bureaucratic structures within the Church of England. Bishop Jayne Ozanne, known for her advocacy work, articulated her concerns about the overall safety within the institution, emphasizing the need for broader reform beyond just changing leadership. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she noted, hinting at the existence of other undisclosed cases and calling for all involved to step up and acknowledge their roles.
The abuse scandal has resulted in calls for greater transparency and accountability not just from church leaders but also from the clergy and institutions involved. Many believe the church must now not only confront its past errors but also establish more stringent policies and protections to prevent re-occurrences of such abuses. This includes the potential for implementing mandatory reporting laws, protecting whistleblowers, and ensuring all allegations are thoroughly investigated without fear of reprisal.
Survivors of Smyth's abuse and advocates alike have called on the Church of England to undergo radical changes. The Makin Review has emphasized the need for lessons to be learned from the church’s systemic failures to protect children and young individuals, urging for immediate actions to rectify these historical injustices. Survivors are also clamoring for financial reparations and safe channels where they can voice their fears and grievances without judgment.
Within just days of the Makin Review's publication, outrage grew among the public and within the church, leading to the resignation of Welby as well as several discussions on how to safeguard the church's future without ignoring the past. The Church of England, which once held immense power and influence, finds itself at a crossroads, needing to not only recover public faith but to redefine its mission and practices to become more inclusive and protective of its congregation.
So far, Welby has expressed regret, stating, "I step aside in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse” and described the situation as renewing his “long-felt and deep shame” concerning the historic safeguarding failures of the church, signaling his awareness of the wider impact on the church's integrity.
While Welby's tenure has been marked by moments of promise and outreach, the shadow cast by Smyth’s case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges still facing the church. With church-goers, victim’s advocates, and leaders eager for change, the future of the Anglican community and the Church of England’s public image hinges on how proactive they will be moving forward. Every leader from now on will need to take heed of these lessons taught by past failures as they navigate the delicate balance between faith, accountability, and justice.
Looking at the bigger picture, Welby’s resignation is not merely a personal decision; it's emblematic of the need for systemic changes within the Church of England. The church is now under immense scrutiny not only from its own members but also from society at large, pressing for it to emerge as more than just an institution of faith but as one committed to the protection and welfare of all, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Only then can the church hope to mend its fractured relationship with the communities it serves.
