Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned amid abuse allegations against the Church of England.
From the findings of the investigation of the Makin Report earlier this month, John Smyth, who had been affiliated with the church, was discovered to have abused more than 100 young men and boys during their time at Christian camps between the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to the Christian Post. Welby’s decision to step down from his position comes after it was discovered that he did not look into the child abuse reports as thoroughly as he could have.
In a statement posted by the Church of England, Welby said:
Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.
When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
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It is very clear that I must take personal responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.
Welby writes how he hopes his resignation will show the necessity for the Church of England to create a safer environment for all.
I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse.
The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.
The archbishop asks for prayers for his family.
In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.
I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.
I believe that stepping aside is the in the best interest of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve. I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us.
For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person.
This decision to resign also comes right after Welby faced backlash for his comments on sexuality, stating that “All sexual activity should be within a committed relationship…whether it’s straight or gay.”
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
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