On Wednesday 13 November, early this morning, the Anglican Communion Office shared a statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Welby, announcing his resignation.
Click on link to the statement
The circumstances surrounding the Archbishop’s resignation relate to the release of the Makin Report into the response and investigation serial abuser John Smyth by the Church of England. The report details some very distressing accounts of abuse by John Smyth over many years in several countries, and the lack of appropriate response and investigation into the abuse by the Church of England. Please use your discretion when reading the report. The summary of the report and link to the full report can be found online here.
On that same page there is a link to an earlier statement made by the Archbishop of Canterbury upon the release of the report, just a week ago.
You may be aware of public statements by members of the Church of England calling for the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign over the issues raised in the Makin Report regarding the appropriateness of his response to knowledge of abuse by John Smyth. Following the announcement of Welby’s resignation the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell has called Welby’s resignation as “the right and honourable thing to do”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a primary responsibility as a Bishop in the Church of England and has no constitutional responsibilities in our Province. However, we are in relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury as one of the four instruments of Communion.
I invite your prayers for all concerned and involved in this situation; survivors of abuse and their families; those involved in supporting changes to improve safeguarding and redress for survivors of abuse; those who will consider the appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury; the Welby family; Archbishop Justin Welby.
Comments