Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Church of England, has resigned due to the fallout from a long-running sexual abuse scandal. His resignation came after an independent investigation revealed that he failed to inform authorities about serial abuse committed by a volunteer at Christian summer camps once he became aware of it.
The Church of England, known as the Anglican Church, was established in the 16th century when it separated from the Roman Catholic Church. It is part of the global Anglican Communion, which includes over 85 million members across more than 165 countries. The British monarch serves as the supreme governor of the Church and has the authority to appoint bishops and church leaders.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is seen as the head of the Church of England and holds a significant role within the Anglican Communion. Each of the 46 churches in this communion has its own primate, but the Archbishop is recognized as “first among equals.”
Welby, 68, is the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. Before his priesthood, he worked in the oil industry for 11 years, transitioning to religious studies in 1989. Ordained in 1992, he held various positions in Africa and the Middle East before becoming archbishop in 2013.
Despite being an experienced mediator, Welby faced challenges uniting the global Anglican Communion, particularly amid disagreements over issues like homosexuality and the role of women. Many liberal churches have embraced inclusivity, while conservative branches in Africa and Asia have resisted these changes, which has diminished the Archbishop’s influence.
The recent independent report examined the late John Smyth, who inflicted sexual, psychological, and physical abuse on over 100 boys and young men at summer camps across the UK, Zimbabwe, and South Africa over five decades. The report concluded that Welby failed to report Smyth’s abuses to authorities after being informed in August 2013. Had he acted, many victims might have been spared from abuse.
Though initially refusing to resign on the grounds that he believed police had already been notified, Welby faced intense criticism from church leaders and survivors alike, leading him to state, “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024.”
Similar to the Catholic Church, the Church of England has dealt with numerous allegations against its clergy regarding the abuse of young people. A government-commissioned inquiry found that 390 affiliated individuals were convicted of child sexual abuse from the 1940s to 2018. The environment within the Church, characterized by deference to priests and taboos surrounding sexual discussions, created a culture that allowed abusers to operate without consequence.
Supporters of Welby have noted his efforts to reform the Church’s culture and enhance its safeguarding measures since becoming Archbishop.
The process to find his successor will commence with the Crown Nominations Commission, which selects candidates for the Archbishop’s position and other bishop roles in England. The commission will forward its preferred candidate, along with an alternate, to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will then advise King Charles III on the appointment.
The commission consists of 16 members, including the Archbishop of York, representatives from clergy and laypeople, a member of the Anglican Communion, and a chair appointed by the prime minister.
Credit: ABC News
